diff --git a/R/tasks/r-packages-updater.yml b/R/tasks/r-packages-updater.yml
index 2f6ad68..2f09fd9 100644
--- a/R/tasks/r-packages-updater.yml
+++ b/R/tasks/r-packages-updater.yml
@@ -7,10 +7,10 @@
       file: dest={{ r_packages_svn_base_dir }} state=directory
 
     - name: Cron job that installs new R packages, if any
-      cron: name="install new R packages" user=root cron_file=install-r-packages minute="*/10" job="/usr/local/bin/update_r_packages install" state=present
+      cron: name="install new R packages" user=root cron_file=install-r-packages minute="*/10" job="/usr/local/bin/update_r_packages install >/var/log/install_r_packages 2>&1" state=present
 
     - name: Cron job that upgrades existing R packages and installs new ones, if any
-      cron: name="install new R packages" user=root cron_file=upgrade-r-packages hour="3" job="/usr/local/bin/update_r_packages upgrade" state=present
+      cron: name="install new R packages" user=root cron_file=upgrade-r-packages hour="3" job="/usr/local/bin/update_r_packages upgrade >/var/log/update_r_packages 2>&1" state=present
 
   when: r_packages_updater
   tags: [ 'r_software', 'r_pkg', 'r_plugins', 'r_plugins_github', 'r_cran_pkgs', 'r_github_pkgs', 'r_packages_updater' ]
@@ -24,10 +24,10 @@
       file: dest={{ r_packages_svn_base_dir }} state=absent
 
     - name: Remove the cron job that installs new R packages
-      cron: name="install new R packages" user=root minute="*/10" cron_file=install-r-packages job="/usr/local/bin/update_r_packages install" state=absent
+      cron: name="install new R packages" user=root minute="*/10" cron_file=install-r-packages job="/usr/local/bin/update_r_packages install >/var/log/install_r_packages 2>&1" state=absent
 
     - name: Remove the cron job that upgrades existing R packages and installs new ones
-      cron: name="install new R packages" user=root cron_file=upgrade-r-packages hour="3" job="/usr/local/bin/update_r_packages upgrade" state=absent
+      cron: name="install new R packages" user=root cron_file=upgrade-r-packages hour="3" job="/usr/local/bin/update_r_packages upgrade >/var/log/update_r_packages 2>&1" state=absent
 
   when: not r_packages_updater
   tags: [ 'r_software', 'r_pkg', 'r_plugins', 'r_plugins_github', 'r_cran_pkgs', 'r_github_pkgs', 'r_packages_updater' ]
diff --git a/R/templates/update_r_packages.sh.j2 b/R/templates/update_r_packages.sh.j2
index 41074e6..c01efbb 100644
--- a/R/templates/update_r_packages.sh.j2
+++ b/R/templates/update_r_packages.sh.j2
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
+export PATH="$PATH:/bin:/sbin:/usr/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/local/sbin"
+
 RETVAl=
 PARAMS=$#
 ACTION=$1
@@ -136,7 +138,7 @@ function debian_pkgs() {
         else
             logger "update_r_packages: APT cache not updated"
         fi
-        xargs -a <(awk '/^\s*[^#]/' "$PKGS_LIST") -r -- apt-get install -q -y -o Dpkg::Options::="--force-confdef" -o Dpkg::Options::="--force-confold"
+        xargs -a <(awk '/^\s*[^#]/' "$PKGS_LIST") -r -- apt-get install -q -y -o Dpkg::Options::="--force-confdef" -o Dpkg::Options::="--force-confold" >/var/log/update_r_debs.log 2>&1
     else
         logger "update_r_packages: skipping the debian packages installation"
     fi