diff --git a/DESCRIPTION b/DESCRIPTION
index a2f1ddfc..8214915b 100644
--- a/DESCRIPTION
+++ b/DESCRIPTION
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 Package: matrixStats
-Version: 1.2.0-9016
+Version: 1.2.0-9017
 Depends:
   R (>= 2.12.0)
 Suggests:
diff --git a/R/000.DEPRECATION.R b/R/000.DEPRECATION.R
index 5503e724..a2eb98a4 100644
--- a/R/000.DEPRECATION.R
+++ b/R/000.DEPRECATION.R
@@ -47,8 +47,7 @@ validateScalarCenter <- function(center, n, dimname) {
 
 
 validateVarsCenterFormula <- local({
-  .curr <- 1
-  .next <- 1
+  countdown <- NA_integer_
   always <- structure(TRUE, when = "each time this function is called")
   
   function() {
@@ -66,13 +65,12 @@ validateVarsCenterFormula <- local({
     ## each time?
     if (freq == 1) return(always)
 
-    ## once in a while?
-    .curr <<- .curr + 1
-    .next <<- freq  ## update .next according to R option
-
-    ## Skip or not?
-    if (.curr <= .next) return(FALSE)
-    .curr <<- 1 ## reset
+    ## Not first incident?
+    if (!is.na(countdown)) {
+      countdown <<- countdown - 1L
+      if (countdown > 0L) return(FALSE)
+    }
+    countdown <<- freq ## reset
     structure(TRUE, when = sprintf("every %g call to this function", freq))
   }
 })
@@ -100,8 +98,7 @@ centerOnUse <- function(fcnname, calls = sys.calls(), msg = NULL) {
 
 
 validateTiesMethodMissing <- local({
-  .curr <- 1
-  .next <- 1
+  countdown <- NA_integer_
   always <- structure(TRUE, when = "each time this function is called")
   
   function() {
@@ -117,15 +114,14 @@ validateTiesMethodMissing <- local({
     if (is.infinite(freq)) return(always)
 
     ## each time?
-    if (freq == 1) return(always)
-
-    ## once in a while?
-    .curr <<- .curr + 1
-    .next <<- freq  ## update .next according to R option
-
-    ## Skip or not?
-    if (.curr <= .next) return(FALSE)
-    .curr <<- 1 ## reset
+    if (freq == 1L) return(always)
+
+    ## Not first incident?
+    if (!is.na(countdown)) {
+      countdown <<- countdown - 1L
+      if (countdown > 0L) return(FALSE)
+    }
+    countdown <<- freq ## reset
     structure(TRUE, when = sprintf("every %g call to this function", freq))
   }
 })
diff --git a/R/options.R b/R/options.R
index 603d9087..a1729c86 100644
--- a/R/options.R
+++ b/R/options.R
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
 #' \describe{
 #'  \item{\option{matrixStats.formula.freq}:}{(numeric)
 #'    Controls how often the above assumption is checked.
-#'    (Default: \code{50} - every 50th call)}
+#'    (Default: \code{50} - every 50:th call starting with the first)}
 #' }
 #'
 #' \describe{
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@
 #' \describe{
 #'  \item{\option{matrixStats.ties.method.freq}:}{(numeric)
 #'    Controls how often the above validation is checked.
-#'    (Default: \code{50} - every 50th call)}
+#'    (Default: \code{50} - every 50:th call starting with the first)}
 #' }
 #'
 #' \describe{