diff --git a/chutney/garage/garage_display.py b/chutney/garage/garage_display.py
index 8cdc329..62624b9 100644
--- a/chutney/garage/garage_display.py
+++ b/chutney/garage/garage_display.py
@@ -15,13 +15,13 @@ class GarageDisplay:
         self.openFillColor = colors.WHITE
         self.garageFile = 'data/garage.json'
 
+        self.symbolDisplay.clearRow(self.topRow, rowHeight=4)
+
     def showGarageState(self):
         state = self.getGarageState()
 
-        # TODO - only update the changed door so the other one doesn't flicker
         if state != self.currentState:
             self.currentState = state
-            self.symbolDisplay.clearRow(self.topRow, rowHeight=4)
 
             if self.isGarageStateValid(state):
                 self.showState(state)
@@ -39,31 +39,27 @@ class GarageDisplay:
 
     def showState(self, state):
         if state["west-door"] == "closed":
-            self.symbolDisplay.displaySquare(
-                x=self.westDoorStartColumn,
-                y=self.topRow,
-                outlineColor=self.closedOutlineColor,
-                fillColor=self.closedFillColor
-            )
+            self.showClosedDoor(self.westDoorStartColumn)
         else:
-            self.symbolDisplay.displaySquare(
-                x=self.westDoorStartColumn,
-                y=self.topRow,
-                outlineColor=self.openOutlineColor,
-                fillColor=self.openFillColor
-            )
+            self.showOpenDoor(self.westDoorStartColumn)
 
         if state["east-door"] == "closed":
-            self.symbolDisplay.displaySquare(
-                x=self.eastDoorStartColumn,
-                y=self.topRow,
-                outlineColor=self.closedOutlineColor,
-                fillColor=self.closedFillColor
-            )
+            self.showClosedDoor(self.eastDoorStartColumn)
         else:
-            self.symbolDisplay.displaySquare(
-                x=self.eastDoorStartColumn,
-                y=self.topRow,
-                outlineColor=self.openOutlineColor,
-                fillColor=self.openFillColor
-            )
+            self.showOpenDoor(self.eastDoorStartColumn)
+
+    def showOpenDoor(self, column):
+        self.symbolDisplay.displaySquare(
+            x=column,
+            y=self.topRow,
+            outlineColor=self.closedOutlineColor,
+            fillColor=self.closedFillColor
+        )
+
+    def showClosedDoor(self, column):
+        self.symbolDisplay.displaySquare(
+            x=column,
+            y=self.topRow,
+            outlineColor=self.closedOutlineColor,
+            fillColor=self.closedFillColor
+        )
diff --git a/chutney/garage/garage_updater.py b/chutney/garage/garage_updater.py
index 20d6cde..84651b4 100644
--- a/chutney/garage/garage_updater.py
+++ b/chutney/garage/garage_updater.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ class GarageUpdater:
         self.uri = config['garage'].get('uri')
         self.garageTempFile = 'data/garage.tmp'
         self.garageFile = 'data/garage.json'
+
         self.persistGarageState('{"error": "init"}')
 
     def updateGarageState(self):