diff --git a/collects/tests/web-server/private/connection-manager-test.ss b/collects/tests/web-server/private/connection-manager-test.ss
index c4fa0d0d8e..75dc98384e 100644
--- a/collects/tests/web-server/private/connection-manager-test.ss
+++ b/collects/tests/web-server/private/connection-manager-test.ss
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
          web-server/private/connection-manager)
 (provide connection-manager-tests)
 
-(start-connection-manager (current-custodian))
+(start-connection-manager)
 
 (define connection-manager-tests
   (test-suite
diff --git a/collects/web-server/private/connection-manager.ss b/collects/web-server/private/connection-manager.ss
index 378422c9cd..25dde16ada 100644
--- a/collects/web-server/private/connection-manager.ss
+++ b/collects/web-server/private/connection-manager.ss
@@ -13,15 +13,15 @@
           [o-port output-port?]
           [custodian custodian?]
           [close? boolean?])]
- [start-connection-manager (custodian? . -> . void)]
+ [start-connection-manager (-> void)]
  [new-connection (number? input-port? output-port? custodian? boolean? . -> . connection?)]
  [kill-connection! (connection? . -> . void)]
  [adjust-connection-timeout! (connection? number? . -> . void)])
 
 ;; start-connection-manager: custodian -> void
 ;; calls the timer manager
-(define (start-connection-manager custodian)
-  (start-timer-manager custodian))
+(define (start-connection-manager)
+  (start-timer-manager))
 
 ;; new-connection: number i-port o-port custodian -> connection
 ;; ask the connection manager for a new connection
diff --git a/collects/web-server/private/dispatch-server-unit.ss b/collects/web-server/private/dispatch-server-unit.ss
index 2766de07a8..5bb31bf151 100644
--- a/collects/web-server/private/dispatch-server-unit.ss
+++ b/collects/web-server/private/dispatch-server-unit.ss
@@ -13,10 +13,10 @@
 ;; start the server and return a thunk to shut it down
 (define (serve)
   (define the-server-custodian (make-custodian))
-  (start-connection-manager the-server-custodian)
   (parameterize ([current-custodian the-server-custodian]
                  [current-server-custodian the-server-custodian]
                  #;[current-thread-initial-stack-size 3])
+    (start-connection-manager)
     (thread
      (lambda ()
        (run-server config:port 
@@ -40,10 +40,10 @@
 ;; NOTE: (GregP) should allow the user to pass in a connection-custodian
 (define (serve-ports ip op)
   (define server-cust (make-custodian))
-  (start-connection-manager server-cust)
   (parameterize ([current-custodian server-cust]
                  [current-server-custodian server-cust])
     (define connection-cust (make-custodian))
+    (start-connection-manager)
     (parameterize ([current-custodian connection-cust])
       (thread
        (lambda ()
diff --git a/collects/web-server/private/timer.ss b/collects/web-server/private/timer.ss
index c7c4b73cc8..d640560a8c 100644
--- a/collects/web-server/private/timer.ss
+++ b/collects/web-server/private/timer.ss
@@ -8,32 +8,31 @@
 
 (define timer-ch (make-async-channel))
 
-; start-timer-manager : custodian -> void
+; start-timer-manager : -> void
 ; The timer manager thread   
-(define (start-timer-manager server-custodian)
-  (parameterize ([current-custodian server-custodian])
-    (thread
-     (lambda ()
-       (let loop ([timers null])
-         #;(printf "Timers: ~a~n" (length timers))
-         ;; Wait for either...
-         (apply sync
-                ;; ... a timer-request message ...
-                (handle-evt
-                 timer-ch
-                 (lambda (req)
-                   ;; represent a req as a (timer-list -> timer-list) function:
-                   ;; add/remove/change timer evet:
-                   (loop (req timers))))
-                ;; ... or a timer
-                (map (lambda (timer)
-                       (handle-evt
-                        (timer-evt timer)
-                        (lambda (_)
-                          ;; execute timer
-                          ((timer-action timer))
-                          (loop (remq timer timers)))))
-                     timers))))))
+(define (start-timer-manager)
+  (thread
+   (lambda ()
+     (let loop ([timers null])
+       #;(printf "Timers: ~a~n" (length timers))
+       ;; Wait for either...
+       (apply sync
+              ;; ... a timer-request message ...
+              (handle-evt
+               timer-ch
+               (lambda (req)
+                 ;; represent a req as a (timer-list -> timer-list) function:
+                 ;; add/remove/change timer evet:
+                 (loop (req timers))))
+              ;; ... or a timer
+              (map (lambda (timer)
+                     (handle-evt
+                      (timer-evt timer)
+                      (lambda (_)
+                        ;; execute timer
+                        ((timer-action timer))
+                        (loop (remq timer timers)))))
+                   timers)))))
   (void))
 
 ;; Limitation on this add-timer: thunk cannot make timer
@@ -93,7 +92,7 @@
  [struct timer ([evt evt?]
                 [expire-seconds number?]
                 [action (-> void)])]   
- [start-timer-manager (custodian? . -> . void)]
+ [start-timer-manager (-> void)]
  [start-timer (number? (-> void) . -> . timer?)]
  [reset-timer! (timer? number? . -> . void)]
  [increment-timer! (timer? number? . -> . void)]
diff --git a/collects/web-server/scribblings/private.scrbl b/collects/web-server/scribblings/private.scrbl
index fa634b58a5..2214fc6a7f 100644
--- a/collects/web-server/scribblings/private.scrbl
+++ b/collects/web-server/scribblings/private.scrbl
@@ -26,10 +26,9 @@ procedures after a given amount of time, that may be extended.
  @scheme[action] should be called when this @scheme[evt] is ready.
 }
 
-@defproc[(start-timer-manager [cust custodian?])
+@defproc[(start-timer-manager)
          void]{
- Handles the execution and management of timers. Resources are charged to
- @scheme[cust].
+ Handles the execution and management of timers.
 }
 
 @defproc[(start-timer [s number?]
@@ -77,10 +76,9 @@ for doing this.
  The connection will last until @scheme[timer] triggers.
 }
 
-@defproc[(start-connection-manager [parent-cust custodian?])
+@defproc[(start-connection-manager)
          void]{
- Runs the connection manager (now just the timer manager) will @scheme[parent-cust]
- as the custodian.
+ Runs the connection manager (now just the timer manager).
 }
 
 @defproc[(new-connection [timeout number?]