diff --git a/src/snapchat.php b/src/snapchat.php
index fe64534..4ec50c3 100755
--- a/src/snapchat.php
+++ b/src/snapchat.php
@@ -230,6 +230,12 @@ public function register($username, $password, $email, $birthday) {
 	 *   The data returned by the service or FALSE on failure.
 	 */
 	public function getUpdates($force = FALSE) {
+
+		// Make sure we're logged in and have a valid access token.
+		if (!$this->auth_token || !$this->username) {
+			return FALSE;
+		}
+
 		if (!$force) {
 			$result = $this->cache->get('updates');
 			if ($result) {
@@ -237,11 +243,6 @@ public function getUpdates($force = FALSE) {
 			}
 		}
 
-		// Make sure we're logged in and have a valid access token.
-		if (!$this->auth_token || !$this->username) {
-			return FALSE;
-		}
-
 		$timestamp = parent::timestamp();
 		$result = parent::post(
 			'/all_updates',
@@ -312,7 +313,13 @@ public function getSnaps() {
 	 * @return mixed
 	 *   An array of stories or FALSE on failure.
 	 */
-	function getFriendStories($force = FALSE) {
+	public function getFriendStories($force = FALSE) {
+
+		// Make sure we're logged in and have a valid access token.
+		if (!$this->auth_token || !$this->username) {
+			return FALSE;
+		}
+
 		if (!$force) {
 			$result = $this->cache->get('stories');
 			if ($result) {
@@ -320,11 +327,6 @@ function getFriendStories($force = FALSE) {
 			}
 		}
 
-		// Make sure we're logged in and have a valid access token.
-		if (!$this->auth_token || !$this->username) {
-			return FALSE;
-		}
-
 		$timestamp = parent::timestamp();
 		$result = parent::post(
 			'/all_updates',