diff --git a/api/api.C b/api/api.C
index 674096adc1..3a62fe666f 100644
--- a/api/api.C
+++ b/api/api.C
@@ -283,9 +283,8 @@ double get_cpu_time() {
 #endif
 }
 
-int checkpoint_completed() {
+int checkpoint_completed(APP_OUT &ao) {
     int retval;
-    APP_OUT ao;
     FILE *f = fopen(APP_TO_CORE_FILE, "w");
     ao.cpu_time_at_checkpoint = get_cpu_time();
     write_app_file(f, ao);
diff --git a/api/api.h b/api/api.h
index d8d44be7c1..9fedf53f5c 100644
--- a/api/api.h
+++ b/api/api.h
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ int boinc_resolve_link(char *file_name, char *resolved_name);
 //the following are provided for implementation of the checkpoint system
 extern bool _checkpoint;
 #define time_to_checkpoint() _checkpoint
-int checkpoint_completed();
+int checkpoint_completed(APP_OUT &ao);
 int set_timer(double period); //period is seconds spent in process
 void on_timer(int not_used);
 double get_cpu_time(); //return cpu time for this process
diff --git a/api/api_test.C b/api/api_test.C
index 59635ece41..bb7bb250a4 100644
--- a/api/api_test.C
+++ b/api/api_test.C
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ int main() {
     unsigned long int i = 0;
     int temp=0;
     APP_IN ai;
+    APP_OUT ao;
     boinc_init(ai);
     mf.open("foobar", "w");
     mf.printf("blah %d %f\n", 17, 34.5);
@@ -34,7 +35,8 @@ int main() {
 	if(time_to_checkpoint()) {
 	    mf.printf("checkpoint\n");
 	    mf.flush();
-	    checkpoint_completed();
+            ao.percent_done = 1;
+	    checkpoint_completed(ao);
 	}
 	temp++;
     }