diff --git a/catcli/catcli.py b/catcli/catcli.py
index 9f41c9c..401a610 100755
--- a/catcli/catcli.py
+++ b/catcli/catcli.py
@@ -69,10 +69,11 @@ Options:
 """.format(BANNER, NAME, CATALOGPATH)
 
 
-def cmd_index(args, noder, catalog, top, debug=False):
+def cmd_index(args, noder, catalog, top):
     path = args['<path>']
     name = args['<name>']
     hash = args['--hash']
+    debug = args['--verbose']
     subsize = not args['--no-subsize']
     if not os.path.exists(path):
         Logger.err('\"{}\" does not exist'.format(path))
@@ -100,11 +101,12 @@ def cmd_index(args, noder, catalog, top, debug=False):
         catalog.save(top)
 
 
-def cmd_update(args, noder, catalog, top, debug=False):
+def cmd_update(args, noder, catalog, top):
     path = args['<path>']
     name = args['<name>']
     hash = args['--hash']
     logpath = args['--lpath']
+    debug = args['--verbose']
     subsize = not args['--no-subsize']
     if not os.path.exists(path):
         Logger.err('\"{}\" does not exist'.format(path))
@@ -244,14 +246,14 @@ def main():
         top = noder.new_top_node()
 
     # handle the meta node
-    meta = noder.update_metanode(noder.get_meta_node(top))
+    meta = noder.update_metanode(top)
     catalog.set_metanode(meta)
 
     # parse command
     if args['index']:
-        cmd_index(args, noder, catalog, top, debug=args['--verbose'])
+        cmd_index(args, noder, catalog, top)
     if args['update']:
-        cmd_update(args, noder, catalog, top, debug=args['--verbose'])
+        cmd_update(args, noder, catalog, top)
     elif args['find']:
         cmd_find(args, noder, top)
     elif args['tree']:
diff --git a/catcli/noder.py b/catcli/noder.py
index 5677c7a..1043b1d 100644
--- a/catcli/noder.py
+++ b/catcli/noder.py
@@ -109,14 +109,6 @@ class Noder:
         self._debug('\tchange: no change for \"{}\"'.format(path))
         return node, False
 
-    def get_meta_node(self, top):
-        '''return the meta node if any'''
-        try:
-            return next(filter(lambda x: x.type == self.TYPE_META,
-                        top.children))
-        except StopIteration:
-            return None
-
     def _rec_size(self, node, store=True):
         '''
         recursively traverse tree and return size
@@ -169,8 +161,9 @@ class Noder:
         '''create a new top node'''
         return anytree.AnyNode(name=self.TOPNAME, type=self.TYPE_TOP)
 
-    def update_metanode(self, meta):
+    def update_metanode(self, top):
         '''create or update meta node information'''
+        meta = self._get_meta_node(top)
         epoch = int(time.time())
         if not meta:
             attr = {}
@@ -182,6 +175,14 @@ class Noder:
         meta.attr['access_version'] = VERSION
         return meta
 
+    def _get_meta_node(self, top):
+        '''return the meta node if any'''
+        try:
+            return next(filter(lambda x: x.type == self.TYPE_META,
+                        top.children))
+        except StopIteration:
+            return None
+
     def file_node(self, name, path, parent, storagepath):
         '''create a new node representing a file'''
         if not os.path.exists(path):
diff --git a/tests/test_update.py b/tests/test_update.py
index 7bcdb66..5d4d4de 100644
--- a/tests/test_update.py
+++ b/tests/test_update.py
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ class TestIndexing(unittest.TestCase):
 
         # index the directory
         unix_tree(dirpath)
-        cmd_index(args, noder, catalog, top, debug=True)
+        cmd_index(args, noder, catalog, top)
         self.assertTrue(os.stat(catalogpath).st_size != 0)
 
         # ensure md5 sum are in
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ class TestIndexing(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertTrue(d2f2_md5_new != d2f2_md5)
 
         # update storage
-        cmd_update(args, noder, catalog, top, debug=True)
+        cmd_update(args, noder, catalog, top)
 
         # print catalog
         # print(read_from_file(catalogpath))
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ class TestIndexing(unittest.TestCase):
         clean(new4)
 
         # update storage
-        cmd_update(args, noder, catalog, top, debug=True)
+        cmd_update(args, noder, catalog, top)
 
         # ensures files and directories are (not) in
         names = [node.name for node in anytree.PreOrderIter(storage)]