diff --git a/phpBB/common.php b/phpBB/common.php
index c8b2fb9609..ae174c8441 100644
--- a/phpBB/common.php
+++ b/phpBB/common.php
@@ -118,11 +118,6 @@ else
 	define('STRIP', (get_magic_quotes_gpc()) ? true : false);
 }
 
-if (defined('IN_CRON'))
-{
-	$phpbb_root_path = dirname(__FILE__) . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR;
-}
-
 if (file_exists($phpbb_root_path . 'config.' . $phpEx))
 {
 	require($phpbb_root_path . 'config.' . $phpEx);
diff --git a/phpBB/cron.php b/phpBB/cron.php
index 3993a149b5..8000066c92 100644
--- a/phpBB/cron.php
+++ b/phpBB/cron.php
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ $user->session_begin(false);
 $auth->acl($user->data);
 
 $cron_type = request_var('cron_type', '');
-$use_shutdown_function = (@function_exists('register_shutdown_function')) ? true : false;
 
 // Output transparent gif
 header('Cache-Control: no-cache');
@@ -30,10 +29,9 @@ header('Content-length: 43');
 
 echo base64_decode('R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP///wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==');
 
-// test without flush ;)
-// flush();
+// Flush here to prevent browser from showing the page as loading while running cron.
+flush();
 
-//
 if (!isset($config['cron_lock']))
 {
 	set_config('cron_lock', '0', true);
@@ -79,23 +77,10 @@ switch ($cron_type)
 			break;
 		}
 
-		// A user reported using the mail() function while using shutdown does not work. We do not want to risk that.
-		if ($use_shutdown_function && !$config['smtp_delivery'])
-		{
-			$use_shutdown_function = false;
-		}
-
 		include_once($phpbb_root_path . 'includes/functions_messenger.' . $phpEx);
 		$queue = new queue();
 
-		if ($use_shutdown_function)
-		{
-			register_shutdown_function(array(&$queue, 'process'));
-		}
-		else
-		{
-			$queue->process();
-		}
+		$queue->process();
 
 	break;
 
@@ -106,14 +91,7 @@ switch ($cron_type)
 			break;
 		}
 
-		if ($use_shutdown_function)
-		{
-			register_shutdown_function(array(&$cache, 'tidy'));
-		}
-		else
-		{
-			$cache->tidy();
-		}
+		$cache->tidy();
 
 	break;
 
@@ -138,14 +116,7 @@ switch ($cron_type)
 			break;
 		}
 
-		if ($use_shutdown_function)
-		{
-			register_shutdown_function(array(&$search, 'tidy'));
-		}
-		else
-		{
-			$search->tidy();
-		}
+		$search->tidy();
 
 	break;
 
@@ -158,14 +129,7 @@ switch ($cron_type)
 
 		include_once($phpbb_root_path . 'includes/functions_admin.' . $phpEx);
 
-		if ($use_shutdown_function)
-		{
-			register_shutdown_function('tidy_warnings');
-		}
-		else
-		{
-			tidy_warnings();
-		}
+		tidy_warnings();
 
 	break;
 
@@ -178,14 +142,7 @@ switch ($cron_type)
 
 		include_once($phpbb_root_path . 'includes/functions_admin.' . $phpEx);
 
-		if ($use_shutdown_function)
-		{
-			register_shutdown_function('tidy_database');
-		}
-		else
-		{
-			tidy_database();
-		}
+		tidy_database();
 
 	break;
 
@@ -196,14 +153,7 @@ switch ($cron_type)
 			break;
 		}
 
-		if ($use_shutdown_function)
-		{
-			register_shutdown_function(array(&$user, 'session_gc'));
-		}
-		else
-		{
-			$user->session_gc();
-		}
+		$user->session_gc();
 
 	break;
 
@@ -230,26 +180,12 @@ switch ($cron_type)
 
 			if ($row['prune_days'])
 			{
-				if ($use_shutdown_function)
-				{
-					register_shutdown_function('auto_prune', $row['forum_id'], 'posted', $row['forum_flags'], $row['prune_days'], $row['prune_freq']);
-				}
-				else
-				{
-					auto_prune($row['forum_id'], 'posted', $row['forum_flags'], $row['prune_days'], $row['prune_freq']);
-				}
+				auto_prune($row['forum_id'], 'posted', $row['forum_flags'], $row['prune_days'], $row['prune_freq']);
 			}
 
 			if ($row['prune_viewed'])
 			{
-				if ($use_shutdown_function)
-				{
-					register_shutdown_function('auto_prune', $row['forum_id'], 'viewed', $row['forum_flags'], $row['prune_viewed'], $row['prune_freq']);
-				}
-				else
-				{
-					auto_prune($row['forum_id'], 'viewed', $row['forum_flags'], $row['prune_viewed'], $row['prune_freq']);
-				}
+				auto_prune($row['forum_id'], 'viewed', $row['forum_flags'], $row['prune_viewed'], $row['prune_freq']);
 			}
 		}
 
@@ -257,16 +193,8 @@ switch ($cron_type)
 }
 
 // Unloading cache and closing db after having done the dirty work.
-if ($use_shutdown_function)
-{
-	register_shutdown_function('unlock_cron');
-	register_shutdown_function('garbage_collection');
-}
-else
-{
-	unlock_cron();
-	garbage_collection();
-}
+unlock_cron();
+garbage_collection();
 
 exit;
 
diff --git a/phpBB/includes/functions.php b/phpBB/includes/functions.php
index 6a2d132175..80b51f80ae 100644
--- a/phpBB/includes/functions.php
+++ b/phpBB/includes/functions.php
@@ -4611,7 +4611,7 @@ function page_footer($run_cron = true)
 
 	// Call cron-type script
 	$call_cron = false;
-	if (!defined('IN_CRON') && $run_cron && !$config['board_disable'])
+	if (!defined('IN_CRON') && $run_cron && !$config['board_disable'] && !$user->data['is_bot'])
 	{
 		$call_cron = true;
 		$time_now = (!empty($user->time_now) && is_int($user->time_now)) ? $user->time_now : time();