diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8719e15..887c514 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -76,6 +76,16 @@ nfdc status report
 ndnpeek /ndn/edu/ucla/ping/test | ndn-dissect
 ```
 
+The master service runs internal cron jobs for polling. You can trigger these manually during debugging (only when not in DEBUG mode).
+
+```bash
+# cron-master pulls the git repo and restarts containers if required
+docker compose exec master bash /testbed/scripts/cron-master.sh
+
+# cron-status regenerates status json
+docker compose exec master bash /testbed/scripts/cron-status.sh
+```
+
 ## Unattended Upgrades
 
 Set up unattended upgrades on the host to automatically install security updates.
diff --git a/scripts/cron-host.sh b/scripts/cron-host.sh
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
diff --git a/scripts/cron-master.sh b/scripts/cron-master.sh
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index 2b5c800..1fdfb36
--- a/scripts/cron-master.sh
+++ b/scripts/cron-master.sh
@@ -15,6 +15,6 @@ fi
 
 git pull
 
-PWD=$ROOT_DIR python3 framework/main.py
+PWD="${ROOT_DIR}" python3 framework/main.py
 
 echo -e "Finished cron-master at $(date)"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/scripts/cron-status.sh b/scripts/cron-status.sh
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
diff --git a/scripts/master.sh b/scripts/master.sh
old mode 100644
new mode 100755