diff --git a/artiq/management/sync_struct.py b/artiq/management/sync_struct.py
index 7e4ea2940..9c1a5f0b4 100644
--- a/artiq/management/sync_struct.py
+++ b/artiq/management/sync_struct.py
@@ -66,15 +66,15 @@ class Subscriber:
             line = yield from self._reader.readline()
             if not line:
                 return
-            obj = pyon.decode(line.decode())
+            mod = pyon.decode(line.decode())
 
-            if obj["action"] == "init":
-                target = self.target_builder(obj["struct"])
+            if mod["action"] == "init":
+                target = self.target_builder(mod["struct"])
             else:
-                process_mod(target, obj)
+                process_mod(target, mod)
 
             if self.notify_cb is not None:
-                self.notify_cb()
+                self.notify_cb(mod)
 
 
 class Notifier:
diff --git a/frontend/artiq_client.py b/frontend/artiq_client.py
index 9ff4f1e31..f6b3a08b4 100755
--- a/frontend/artiq_client.py
+++ b/frontend/artiq_client.py
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ def _show_list(args, notifier_name, display_fun):
         l[:] = x
         return l
     subscriber = Subscriber(notifier_name, init_l,
-                            lambda: display_fun(l))
+                            lambda mod: display_fun(l))
     _run_subscriber(args.server, args.port, subscriber)
 
 
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ def _show_dict(args, notifier_name, display_fun):
         d.update(x)
         return d
     subscriber = Subscriber(notifier_name, init_d,
-                            lambda: display_fun(d))
+                            lambda mod: display_fun(d))
     _run_subscriber(args.server, args.port, subscriber)