diff --git a/gr-checks/gr-checks-chip-view.js b/gr-checks/gr-checks-chip-view.js
index e96cdd3..cd07acb 100644
--- a/gr-checks/gr-checks-chip-view.js
+++ b/gr-checks/gr-checks-chip-view.js
@@ -84,7 +84,16 @@
         type: Boolean,
         value: false
       },
-      pollChecksInterval: Object
+      pollChecksInterval: Object,
+      visibilityChangeListenerAdded: {
+        type: Boolean,
+        value: false
+      }
+    },
+
+    detached() {
+      clearInterval(this.pollChecksInterval);
+      this.unlisten(document, 'visibilitychange', '_onVisibililityChange');
     },
 
     observers: [
@@ -124,6 +133,14 @@
       });
     },
 
+    _onVisibililityChange() {
+      if (document.hidden) {
+        clearInterval(this.pollChecksInterval);
+        return;
+      }
+      this._pollChecksRegularly(this.change, this.revision, this.getChecks);
+    },
+
     _pollChecksRegularly(change, revision, getChecks) {
       if (this.pollChecksInterval) {
         clearInterval(this.pollChecksInterval);
@@ -131,6 +148,10 @@
       const poll = () => this._fetchChecks(change, revision, getChecks);
       poll();
       this.pollChecksInterval = setInterval(poll, CHECKS_POLL_INTERVAL_MS)
+      if (!this.visibilityChangeListenerAdded) {
+        this.visibilityChangeListenerAdded = true;
+        this.listen(document, 'visibilitychange', '_onVisibililityChange');
+      }
     },
 
     /**
diff --git a/gr-checks/gr-checks-view.js b/gr-checks/gr-checks-view.js
index 43643f0..f5d083f 100644
--- a/gr-checks/gr-checks-view.js
+++ b/gr-checks/gr-checks-view.js
@@ -53,13 +53,21 @@
         type: Object,
         value: LoadingStatus.LOADING,
       },
-      pollChecksInterval: Object
+      pollChecksInterval: Object,
+      visibilityChangeListenerAdded: {
+        type: Boolean,
+        value: false
+      }
     },
 
     observers: [
       '_pollChecksRegularly(change, revision, getChecks)',
     ],
 
+    detached() {
+      clearInterval(this.pollChecksInterval);
+      this.unlisten(document, 'visibilitychange', '_onVisibililityChange');
+    },
 
     _orderChecks(a, b) {
       if (a.state != b.state) {
@@ -95,6 +103,14 @@
       });
     },
 
+    _onVisibililityChange() {
+      if (document.hidden) {
+        clearInterval(this.pollChecksInterval);
+        return;
+      }
+      this._pollChecksRegularly(this.change, this.revision, this.getChecks);
+    },
+
     _pollChecksRegularly(change, revision, getChecks) {
       if (this.pollChecksInterval) {
         clearInterval(this.pollChecksInterval);
@@ -102,6 +118,10 @@
       const poll = () => this._fetchChecks(change, revision, getChecks);
       poll();
       this.pollChecksInterval = setInterval(poll, CHECKS_POLL_INTERVAL_MS)
+      if (!this.visibilityChangeListenerAdded) {
+        this.visibilityChangeListenerAdded = true;
+        this.listen(document, 'visibilitychange', '_onVisibililityChange');
+      }
     },
 
     _checkConfigured() {
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/CheckJson.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/CheckJson.java
index e4199e9..074d4cc 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/CheckJson.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/CheckJson.java
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@
                 info.checkerName = checker.getName().orElse(null);
                 info.checkerStatus = checker.getStatus();
                 info.blocking = checker.getBlockingConditions();
+                info.checkerDescription = checker.getDescription().orElse(null);
               });
     } catch (ConfigInvalidException e) {
       logger.atWarning().withCause(e).log("skipping invalid checker %s", checkerUuid);
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/CheckUpdate.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/CheckUpdate.java
index 315160d..0b86796 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/CheckUpdate.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/CheckUpdate.java
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 import com.google.auto.value.AutoValue;
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.checks.api.CheckState;
+import com.google.gerrit.server.util.time.TimeUtil;
 import java.sql.Timestamp;
 import java.util.Optional;
 
@@ -49,6 +50,14 @@
 
     public abstract Builder setFinished(Timestamp finished);
 
+    public Builder unsetStarted() {
+      return setStarted(TimeUtil.never());
+    }
+
+    public Builder unsetFinished() {
+      return setFinished(TimeUtil.never());
+    }
+
     public abstract CheckUpdate build();
   }
 }
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/Checks.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/Checks.java
index c4527e5..fa15c0e 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/Checks.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/Checks.java
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableList;
 import com.google.gerrit.exceptions.StorageException;
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.checks.api.CombinedCheckState;
+import com.google.gerrit.reviewdb.client.Change;
 import com.google.gerrit.reviewdb.client.PatchSet;
 import com.google.gerrit.reviewdb.client.Project;
 import java.io.IOException;
@@ -90,6 +91,16 @@
   boolean areAllRequiredCheckersPassing(Project.NameKey projectName, PatchSet.Id patchSetId)
       throws IOException, StorageException;
 
+  /**
+   * Computes an ETag for the checks of the given change.
+   *
+   * @param projectName the name of the project that contains the change
+   * @param changeId ID of the change for which the ETag should be computed
+   * @return ETag for the checks of the given change
+   * @throws IOException if failed to access the checks data
+   */
+  String getETag(Project.NameKey projectName, Change.Id changeId) throws IOException;
+
   @AutoValue
   abstract class GetCheckOptions {
     public static GetCheckOptions defaults() {
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/ChecksETagComputation.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/ChecksETagComputation.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7dc1501
--- /dev/null
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/ChecksETagComputation.java
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+// Copyright (C) 2019 The Android Open Source Project
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+// http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package com.google.gerrit.plugins.checks;
+
+import com.google.gerrit.exceptions.StorageException;
+import com.google.gerrit.reviewdb.client.Change;
+import com.google.gerrit.reviewdb.client.Project;
+import com.google.gerrit.server.change.ChangeETagComputation;
+import com.google.inject.Inject;
+import com.google.inject.Singleton;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+/**
+ * Ensures that the ETag of a change changes when there was any check update for the change.
+ *
+ * <p>This prevents callers using ETags from potentially seeing outdated submittability and combined
+ * check state information in {@link com.google.gerrit.extensions.common.ChangeInfo} when a check
+ * for the change was created or updated.
+ */
+@Singleton
+public class ChecksETagComputation implements ChangeETagComputation {
+  private final Checks checks;
+
+  @Inject
+  ChecksETagComputation(Checks checks) {
+    this.checks = checks;
+  }
+
+  @Override
+  public String getETag(Project.NameKey projectName, Change.Id changeId) {
+    try {
+      return checks.getETag(projectName, changeId);
+    } catch (IOException e) {
+      // The change ETag will be invalidated if the checks can be accessed the next time.
+      throw new StorageException(
+          String.format(
+              "Failed to compute ETag for checks of change %s in project %s",
+              changeId, projectName));
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/Module.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/Module.java
index 8440501..140497b 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/Module.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/Module.java
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.checks.rules.ChecksSubmitRule;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.DynamicOptions;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.change.ChangeAttributeFactory;
+import com.google.gerrit.server.change.ChangeETagComputation;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.git.validators.CommitValidationListener;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.git.validators.MergeValidationListener;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.git.validators.RefOperationValidationListener;
@@ -56,6 +57,10 @@
         .to(CheckerRefOperationValidator.class)
         .in(SINGLETON);
 
+    DynamicSet.bind(binder(), ChangeETagComputation.class)
+        .to(ChecksETagComputation.class)
+        .in(SINGLETON);
+
     DynamicSet.bind(binder(), ChangeAttributeFactory.class).to(ChangeCheckAttributeFactory.class);
     bind(DynamicOptions.DynamicBean.class)
         .annotatedWith(Exports.named(GetChange.class))
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/AbstractCheckersTest.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/AbstractCheckersTest.java
index e476537..51fcc41 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/AbstractCheckersTest.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/AbstractCheckersTest.java
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
     sysModule = "com.google.gerrit.plugins.checks.acceptance.TestModule",
     httpModule = "com.google.gerrit.plugins.checks.HttpModule")
 public class AbstractCheckersTest extends LightweightPluginDaemonTest {
-  @Inject protected ProjectOperations projectOperations;
+  @Inject private ProjectOperations projectOperations;
 
   protected CheckerOperations checkerOperations;
   protected CheckOperations checkOperations;
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/testsuite/BUILD b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/testsuite/BUILD
index 62a5299..577bfd4 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/testsuite/BUILD
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/testsuite/BUILD
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
     srcs = glob(["*.java"]),
     deps = [
         "//java/com/google/gerrit/acceptance:lib",
+        "//java/com/google/gerrit/server/util/time",
         "//plugins/checks:checks__plugin",
     ],
 )
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/testsuite/CheckerOperationsImpl.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/testsuite/CheckerOperationsImpl.java
index 7600dcb..984cd31 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/testsuite/CheckerOperationsImpl.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/testsuite/CheckerOperationsImpl.java
@@ -277,8 +277,9 @@
       }
 
       if (testCheckerInvalidation.nonParseableConfig()) {
-        try (Repository repo = repoManager.openRepository(allProjectsName)) {
-          new TestRepository<>(repo)
+        try (Repository repo = repoManager.openRepository(allProjectsName);
+            TestRepository<Repository> testRepo = new TestRepository<>(repo)) {
+          testRepo
               .branch(checkerUuid.toRefName())
               .commit()
               .add(CheckerConfig.CHECKER_CONFIG_FILE, "non-parseable-config")
@@ -287,9 +288,9 @@
       }
 
       if (testCheckerInvalidation.deleteRef()) {
-        try (Repository repo = repoManager.openRepository(allProjectsName)) {
-          RefUpdate ru =
-              new TestRepository<>(repo).getRepository().updateRef(checkerUuid.toRefName(), true);
+        try (Repository repo = repoManager.openRepository(allProjectsName);
+            TestRepository<Repository> testRepo = new TestRepository<>(repo)) {
+          RefUpdate ru = testRepo.getRepository().updateRef(checkerUuid.toRefName(), true);
           ru.setForceUpdate(true);
           ru.delete();
         }
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/testsuite/TestCheckUpdate.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/testsuite/TestCheckUpdate.java
index 90864a6..16b4316 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/testsuite/TestCheckUpdate.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/testsuite/TestCheckUpdate.java
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.testsuite.ThrowingConsumer;
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.checks.CheckKey;
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.checks.api.CheckState;
+import com.google.gerrit.server.util.time.TimeUtil;
 import java.sql.Timestamp;
 import java.util.Optional;
 
@@ -65,6 +66,14 @@
 
     public abstract Builder finished(Timestamp finished);
 
+    public Builder clearStarted() {
+      return started(TimeUtil.never());
+    }
+
+    public Builder clearFinished() {
+      return finished(TimeUtil.never());
+    }
+
     abstract Builder checkUpdater(ThrowingConsumer<TestCheckUpdate> checkUpdate);
 
     abstract TestCheckUpdate autoBuild();
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/api/CheckInfo.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/api/CheckInfo.java
index 77cbdef..d0d5c38 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/api/CheckInfo.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/api/CheckInfo.java
@@ -56,6 +56,9 @@
   /** Blocking conditions that apply to this check. */
   public Set<BlockingCondition> blocking;
 
+  /** Description of the checker that produced this check */
+  public String checkerDescription;
+
   @Override
   public boolean equals(Object o) {
     if (!(o instanceof CheckInfo)) {
@@ -75,7 +78,8 @@
         && Objects.equals(other.updated, updated)
         && Objects.equals(other.checkerName, checkerName)
         && Objects.equals(other.checkerStatus, checkerStatus)
-        && Objects.equals(other.blocking, blocking);
+        && Objects.equals(other.blocking, blocking)
+        && Objects.equals(other.checkerDescription, checkerDescription);
   }
 
   @Override
@@ -94,7 +98,8 @@
         updated,
         checkerName,
         checkerStatus,
-        blocking);
+        blocking,
+        checkerDescription);
   }
 
   @Override
@@ -114,6 +119,7 @@
         .add("checkerName", checkerName)
         .add("checkerStatus", checkerStatus)
         .add("blocking", blocking)
+        .add("checkerDescription", checkerDescription)
         .toString();
   }
 }
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/db/CheckerConfig.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/db/CheckerConfig.java
index 61bd436..3adb2dd 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/db/CheckerConfig.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/db/CheckerConfig.java
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.checks.Checkers;
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.checks.CheckersUpdate;
 import com.google.gerrit.reviewdb.client.Project;
-import com.google.gerrit.reviewdb.client.Project.NameKey;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.git.meta.MetaDataUpdate;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.git.meta.VersionedMetaData;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.util.time.TimeUtil;
@@ -152,7 +151,8 @@
    * @throws IOException if the repository can't be accessed for some reason
    * @throws ConfigInvalidException if the checker exists but can't be read due to an invalid format
    */
-  public static CheckerConfig loadForChecker(NameKey projectName, Repository repository, Ref ref)
+  public static CheckerConfig loadForChecker(
+      Project.NameKey projectName, Repository repository, Ref ref)
       throws IOException, ConfigInvalidException {
     CheckerConfig checkerConfig = new CheckerConfig(ref.getName());
     checkerConfig.load(projectName, repository);
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/db/NoteDbCheck.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/db/NoteDbCheck.java
index cb60d2c..043028a 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/db/NoteDbCheck.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/db/NoteDbCheck.java
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.checks.api.CheckState;
 import com.google.gerrit.reviewdb.client.PatchSet;
 import com.google.gerrit.reviewdb.client.Project;
+import com.google.gerrit.server.util.time.TimeUtil;
 import java.sql.Timestamp;
 
 /** Representation of {@link Check} that can be serialized with GSON. */
@@ -74,11 +75,19 @@
       modified = true;
     }
     if (update.started().isPresent() && !update.started().get().equals(started)) {
-      started = update.started().get();
+      if (update.started().get().equals(TimeUtil.never())) {
+        started = null;
+      } else {
+        started = update.started().get();
+      }
       modified = true;
     }
     if (update.finished().isPresent() && !update.finished().get().equals(finished)) {
-      finished = update.finished().get();
+      if (update.finished().get().equals(TimeUtil.never())) {
+        finished = null;
+      } else {
+        finished = update.finished().get();
+      }
       modified = true;
     }
     return modified;
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/db/NoteDbChecks.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/db/NoteDbChecks.java
index 02847e8..1e245fd 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/db/NoteDbChecks.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/db/NoteDbChecks.java
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.checks.CheckKey;
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.checks.Checker;
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.checks.CheckerQuery;
+import com.google.gerrit.plugins.checks.CheckerRef;
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.checks.CheckerUuid;
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.checks.Checkers;
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.checks.Checks;
@@ -33,10 +34,10 @@
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.checks.api.CheckerStatus;
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.checks.api.CombinedCheckState;
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.checks.api.CombinedCheckState.CheckStateCount;
+import com.google.gerrit.reviewdb.client.Change;
 import com.google.gerrit.reviewdb.client.PatchSet;
-import com.google.gerrit.reviewdb.client.PatchSet.Id;
 import com.google.gerrit.reviewdb.client.Project;
-import com.google.gerrit.reviewdb.client.Project.NameKey;
+import com.google.gerrit.server.git.GitRepositoryManager;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.query.change.ChangeData;
 import com.google.inject.Inject;
 import com.google.inject.Provider;
@@ -46,6 +47,10 @@
 import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Optional;
 import java.util.stream.Stream;
+import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.ObjectId;
+import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.Ref;
+import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.Repository;
+import org.eclipse.jgit.revwalk.RevWalk;
 
 /** Class to read checks from NoteDb. */
 @Singleton
@@ -55,6 +60,7 @@
   private final Checkers checkers;
   private final CheckBackfiller checkBackfiller;
   private final Provider<CheckerQuery> checkerQueryProvider;
+  private final GitRepositoryManager repoManager;
 
   @Inject
   NoteDbChecks(
@@ -62,12 +68,14 @@
       CheckNotes.Factory checkNotesFactory,
       Checkers checkers,
       CheckBackfiller checkBackfiller,
-      Provider<CheckerQuery> checkerQueryProvider) {
+      Provider<CheckerQuery> checkerQueryProvider,
+      GitRepositoryManager repoManager) {
     this.changeDataFactory = changeDataFactory;
     this.checkNotesFactory = checkNotesFactory;
     this.checkers = checkers;
     this.checkBackfiller = checkBackfiller;
     this.checkerQueryProvider = checkerQueryProvider;
+    this.repoManager = repoManager;
   }
 
   @Override
@@ -131,15 +139,15 @@
   }
 
   @Override
-  public CombinedCheckState getCombinedCheckState(NameKey projectName, Id patchSetId)
-      throws IOException, StorageException {
+  public CombinedCheckState getCombinedCheckState(
+      Project.NameKey projectName, PatchSet.Id patchSetId) throws IOException, StorageException {
     ImmutableListMultimap<CheckState, Boolean> statesAndRequired =
         getStatesAndRequiredMap(projectName, patchSetId);
     return CombinedCheckState.combine(statesAndRequired);
   }
 
   @Override
-  public boolean areAllRequiredCheckersPassing(NameKey projectName, Id patchSetId)
+  public boolean areAllRequiredCheckersPassing(Project.NameKey projectName, PatchSet.Id patchSetId)
       throws IOException, StorageException {
     ImmutableListMultimap<CheckState, Boolean> statesAndRequired =
         getStatesAndRequiredMap(projectName, patchSetId);
@@ -148,8 +156,17 @@
         && checkStateCount.inProgressRequiredCount() == 0;
   }
 
+  @Override
+  public String getETag(Project.NameKey projectName, Change.Id changeId) throws IOException {
+    try (Repository repo = repoManager.openRepository(projectName);
+        RevWalk rw = new RevWalk(repo)) {
+      Ref checkRef = repo.getRefDatabase().exactRef(CheckerRef.checksRef(changeId));
+      return checkRef != null ? checkRef.getObjectId().getName() : ObjectId.zeroId().getName();
+    }
+  }
+
   private ImmutableListMultimap<CheckState, Boolean> getStatesAndRequiredMap(
-      NameKey projectName, Id patchSetId) throws IOException, StorageException {
+      Project.NameKey projectName, PatchSet.Id patchSetId) throws IOException, StorageException {
     ChangeData changeData = changeDataFactory.create(projectName, patchSetId.changeId());
     ImmutableMap<String, Checker> allCheckersOfProject =
         checkers.checkersOf(projectName).stream()
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/testing/CheckerConfigSubject.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/testing/CheckerConfigSubject.java
index e74f050..8e5bb2c 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/testing/CheckerConfigSubject.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/testing/CheckerConfigSubject.java
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.checks.db.CheckerConfig;
 import com.google.gerrit.reviewdb.client.Project;
 import com.google.gerrit.truth.OptionalSubject;
+import java.sql.Timestamp;
 import java.util.Optional;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.Config;
 
@@ -87,7 +88,7 @@
     check("query()").about(optionals()).that(checker().getQuery()).isEmpty();
   }
 
-  public ComparableSubject hasCreatedThat() {
+  public ComparableSubject<Timestamp> hasCreatedThat() {
     return check("created()").that(checker().getCreated());
   }
 
diff --git a/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/CheckerRefsIT.java b/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/CheckerRefsIT.java
index e87dd42..71d468d 100644
--- a/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/CheckerRefsIT.java
+++ b/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/CheckerRefsIT.java
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 
 import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.PushOneCommit;
 import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.SkipProjectClone;
+import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.testsuite.project.ProjectOperations;
 import com.google.gerrit.common.data.Permission;
 import com.google.gerrit.extensions.client.ChangeStatus;
 import com.google.gerrit.extensions.common.ChangeInput;
@@ -51,6 +52,7 @@
 
 @SkipProjectClone
 public class CheckerRefsIT extends AbstractCheckersTest {
+  @Inject private ProjectOperations projectOperations;
   @Inject private Sequences seq;
   @Inject private ChangeInserter.Factory changeInserterFactory;
   @Inject private BatchUpdate.Factory updateFactory;
@@ -354,10 +356,11 @@
     try (Repository git = repoManager.openRepository(project);
         ObjectInserter oi = git.newObjectInserter();
         ObjectReader reader = oi.newReader();
-        RevWalk rw = new RevWalk(reader)) {
+        RevWalk rw = new RevWalk(reader);
+        TestRepository<Repository> testRepo = new TestRepository<>(git)) {
       RevCommit head = rw.parseCommit(git.exactRef(targetRef).getObjectId());
       RevCommit commit =
-          new TestRepository<>(git)
+          testRepo
               .commit()
               .author(admin.newIdent())
               .message("A change.")
diff --git a/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/api/CreateCheckIT.java b/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/api/CreateCheckIT.java
index a8a8d19..d16df11 100644
--- a/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/api/CreateCheckIT.java
+++ b/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/api/CreateCheckIT.java
@@ -372,6 +372,36 @@
     assertThat(response.getEntityContent()).isEqualTo("checks are not supported on a change edit");
   }
 
+  @Test
+  public void creationOfCheckChangesETagOfChange() throws Exception {
+    CheckerUuid checkerUuid = checkerOperations.newChecker().repository(project).create();
+
+    String oldETag = parseChangeResource(patchSetId.changeId().toString()).getETag();
+
+    CheckInput input = new CheckInput();
+    input.checkerUuid = checkerUuid.get();
+    input.state = CheckState.RUNNING;
+    checksApiFactory.revision(patchSetId).create(input).get();
+
+    String newETag = parseChangeResource(patchSetId.changeId().toString()).getETag();
+    assertThat(newETag).isNotEqualTo(oldETag);
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void creationOfCheckChangesETagOfRevisionActions() throws Exception {
+    CheckerUuid checkerUuid = checkerOperations.newChecker().repository(project).create();
+
+    String oldETag = gApi.changes().id(patchSetId.changeId().toString()).current().etag();
+
+    CheckInput input = new CheckInput();
+    input.checkerUuid = checkerUuid.get();
+    input.state = CheckState.RUNNING;
+    checksApiFactory.revision(patchSetId).create(input).get();
+
+    String newETag = gApi.changes().id(patchSetId.changeId().toString()).current().etag();
+    assertThat(newETag).isNotEqualTo(oldETag);
+  }
+
   // TODO(gerrit-team) More tests, especially for multiple checkers and PS and how commits behave
 
   private Check getCheck(Project.NameKey project, PatchSet.Id patchSetId, CheckerUuid checkerUuid)
diff --git a/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/api/GetCheckIT.java b/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/api/GetCheckIT.java
index 9e2a066..ecd2596 100644
--- a/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/api/GetCheckIT.java
+++ b/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/api/GetCheckIT.java
@@ -89,7 +89,12 @@
   @Test
   public void getCheckWithOptions() throws Exception {
     CheckerUuid checkerUuid =
-        checkerOperations.newChecker().repository(project).name("My Checker").create();
+        checkerOperations
+            .newChecker()
+            .repository(project)
+            .name("My Checker")
+            .description("Description")
+            .create();
 
     CheckKey checkKey = CheckKey.create(project, patchSetId, checkerUuid);
     checkOperations.newCheck(checkKey).state(CheckState.RUNNING).upsert();
@@ -99,7 +104,7 @@
     expectedCheckInfo.checkerName = "My Checker";
     expectedCheckInfo.checkerStatus = CheckerStatus.ENABLED;
     expectedCheckInfo.blocking = ImmutableSortedSet.of();
-
+    expectedCheckInfo.checkerDescription = "Description";
     assertThat(getCheckInfo(patchSetId, checkerUuid, ListChecksOption.CHECKER))
         .isEqualTo(expectedCheckInfo);
   }
diff --git a/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/api/QueryPendingChecksIT.java b/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/api/QueryPendingChecksIT.java
index 5bfbee0..2727203 100644
--- a/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/api/QueryPendingChecksIT.java
+++ b/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/api/QueryPendingChecksIT.java
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 
 import com.google.common.collect.Iterables;
 import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.RestResponse;
+import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.testsuite.project.ProjectOperations;
 import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.testsuite.request.RequestScopeOperations;
 import com.google.gerrit.common.data.Permission;
 import com.google.gerrit.extensions.restapi.BadRequestException;
@@ -50,6 +51,7 @@
 import org.junit.Test;
 
 public class QueryPendingChecksIT extends AbstractCheckersTest {
+  @Inject private ProjectOperations projectOperations;
   @Inject private RequestScopeOperations requestScopeOperations;
 
   private PatchSet.Id patchSetId;
diff --git a/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/api/UpdateCheckIT.java b/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/api/UpdateCheckIT.java
index 6d15caa..c6aa0c1 100644
--- a/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/api/UpdateCheckIT.java
+++ b/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/api/UpdateCheckIT.java
@@ -156,6 +156,16 @@
   }
 
   @Test
+  public void unsetStarted() throws Exception {
+    checkOperations.check(checkKey).forUpdate().started(TimeUtil.nowTs()).upsert();
+
+    CheckInput input = new CheckInput();
+    input.started = TimeUtil.never();
+    CheckInfo info = checksApiFactory.revision(patchSetId).id(checkKey.checkerUuid()).update(input);
+    assertThat(info.started).isNull();
+  }
+
+  @Test
   public void updateFinished() throws Exception {
     CheckInput input = new CheckInput();
     input.finished = TimeUtil.nowTs();
@@ -165,6 +175,16 @@
   }
 
   @Test
+  public void unsetFinished() throws Exception {
+    checkOperations.check(checkKey).forUpdate().finished(TimeUtil.nowTs()).upsert();
+
+    CheckInput input = new CheckInput();
+    input.finished = TimeUtil.never();
+    CheckInfo info = checksApiFactory.revision(patchSetId).id(checkKey.checkerUuid()).update(input);
+    assertThat(info.finished).isNull();
+  }
+
+  @Test
   public void updateWithEmptyInput() throws Exception {
     assertThat(
             checksApiFactory
@@ -360,4 +380,56 @@
     assertThat(info.message).isEqualTo("some message");
     assertThat(info.url).isEqualTo("https://www.example.com");
   }
+
+  @Test
+  public void updateOfCheckChangesETagOfChange() throws Exception {
+    String oldETag = parseChangeResource(patchSetId.changeId().toString()).getETag();
+
+    CheckInput input = new CheckInput();
+    input.state = CheckState.FAILED;
+    checksApiFactory.revision(patchSetId).id(checkKey.checkerUuid()).update(input);
+
+    String newETag = parseChangeResource(patchSetId.changeId().toString()).getETag();
+    assertThat(newETag).isNotEqualTo(oldETag);
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void noOpUpdateOfCheckDoesNotChangeETagOfChange() throws Exception {
+    CheckInput input = new CheckInput();
+    input.state = CheckState.FAILED;
+    checksApiFactory.revision(patchSetId).id(checkKey.checkerUuid()).update(input);
+
+    String oldETag = parseChangeResource(patchSetId.changeId().toString()).getETag();
+
+    checksApiFactory.revision(patchSetId).id(checkKey.checkerUuid()).update(input);
+
+    String newETag = parseChangeResource(patchSetId.changeId().toString()).getETag();
+    assertThat(newETag).isEqualTo(oldETag);
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void updateOfCheckChangesETagOfRevisionActions() throws Exception {
+    String oldETag = gApi.changes().id(patchSetId.changeId().toString()).current().etag();
+
+    CheckInput input = new CheckInput();
+    input.state = CheckState.FAILED;
+    checksApiFactory.revision(patchSetId).id(checkKey.checkerUuid()).update(input);
+
+    String newETag = gApi.changes().id(patchSetId.changeId().toString()).current().etag();
+    assertThat(newETag).isNotEqualTo(oldETag);
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void noOpUpdateOfCheckDoesNotChangeETagOfRevisionActions() throws Exception {
+    CheckInput input = new CheckInput();
+    input.state = CheckState.FAILED;
+    checksApiFactory.revision(patchSetId).id(checkKey.checkerUuid()).update(input);
+
+    String oldETag = gApi.changes().id(patchSetId.changeId().toString()).current().etag();
+
+    checksApiFactory.revision(patchSetId).id(checkKey.checkerUuid()).update(input);
+
+    String newETag = gApi.changes().id(patchSetId.changeId().toString()).current().etag();
+    assertThat(newETag).isEqualTo(oldETag);
+  }
 }
diff --git a/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/testsuite/CheckOperationsImplTest.java b/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/testsuite/CheckOperationsImplTest.java
index 4e63bde..6458099 100644
--- a/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/testsuite/CheckOperationsImplTest.java
+++ b/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/testsuite/CheckOperationsImplTest.java
@@ -476,6 +476,18 @@
   }
 
   @Test
+  public void startedCanBeCleared() throws Exception {
+    CheckerUuid checkerUuid = checkerOperations.newChecker().repository(project).create();
+    CheckKey checkKey = CheckKey.create(project, createChange().getPatchSetId(), checkerUuid);
+    checkOperations.newCheck(checkKey).started(TimeUtil.nowTs()).upsert();
+
+    checkOperations.check(checkKey).forUpdate().clearStarted().upsert();
+
+    Optional<Timestamp> currentStarted = checkOperations.check(checkKey).get().started();
+    assertThat(currentStarted).isEmpty();
+  }
+
+  @Test
   public void finishedCanBeUpdated() throws Exception {
     CheckerUuid checkerUuid = checkerOperations.newChecker().repository(project).create();
     CheckKey checkKey = CheckKey.create(project, createChange().getPatchSetId(), checkerUuid);
@@ -489,6 +501,18 @@
   }
 
   @Test
+  public void finishedCanBeCleared() throws Exception {
+    CheckerUuid checkerUuid = checkerOperations.newChecker().repository(project).create();
+    CheckKey checkKey = CheckKey.create(project, createChange().getPatchSetId(), checkerUuid);
+    checkOperations.newCheck(checkKey).finished(TimeUtil.nowTs()).upsert();
+
+    checkOperations.check(checkKey).forUpdate().clearFinished().upsert();
+
+    Optional<Timestamp> currentFinished = checkOperations.check(checkKey).get().finished();
+    assertThat(currentFinished).isEmpty();
+  }
+
+  @Test
   public void getNotesAsText() throws Exception {
     CheckerUuid checkerUuid = checkerOperations.newChecker().repository(project).create();
     PatchSet.Id patchSetId = createChange().getPatchSetId();
diff --git a/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/testsuite/CheckerOperationsImplTest.java b/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/testsuite/CheckerOperationsImplTest.java
index 403a3a7..f78fee2 100644
--- a/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/testsuite/CheckerOperationsImplTest.java
+++ b/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/acceptance/testsuite/CheckerOperationsImplTest.java
@@ -682,8 +682,9 @@
     CheckerUuid checkerUuid1 = CheckerUuid.parse("test:my-checker1");
     CheckerUuid checkerUuid2 = CheckerUuid.parse("test:my-checker2");
 
-    try (Repository repo = repoManager.openRepository(allProjects)) {
-      new TestRepository<>(repo)
+    try (Repository repo = repoManager.openRepository(allProjects);
+        TestRepository<Repository> testRepo = new TestRepository<>(repo)) {
+      testRepo
           .branch(CheckerRef.REFS_META_CHECKERS)
           .commit()
           .add(
@@ -710,8 +711,9 @@
     CheckerUuid checkerUuid1 = CheckerUuid.parse("test:my-checker1");
     CheckerUuid checkerUuid2 = CheckerUuid.parse("test:my-checker2");
 
-    try (Repository repo = repoManager.openRepository(allProjects)) {
-      new TestRepository<>(repo)
+    try (Repository repo = repoManager.openRepository(allProjects);
+        TestRepository<Repository> testRepo = new TestRepository<>(repo)) {
+      testRepo
           .branch(CheckerRef.REFS_META_CHECKERS)
           .commit()
           .add(
diff --git a/resources/Documentation/rest-api-checkers.md b/resources/Documentation/rest-api-checkers.md
index 40e1cf3..f05816f 100644
--- a/resources/Documentation/rest-api-checkers.md
+++ b/resources/Documentation/rest-api-checkers.md
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@
 Creates a new checker.
 
 In the request body the data for the checker must be provided as a
-[CheckerInput](#checker-input) entity.
+[CheckerCreateInput](#checker-create-input) entity.
 
 Note that only users with the [Administrate
 Checkers](access-control.md#capability_administrateCheckers) global capability
@@ -94,12 +94,12 @@
 Updates a checker.
 
 The new property values must be set in the request body in a
-[CheckerInput](#checker-input) entity.
+[CheckerUpdateInput](#checker-update-input) entity.
 
 This REST endpoint supports partial updates of the checker property set. Only
-properties that are set in the [CheckerInput](#checker-input) entity are
-updated. Properties that are not set in the input (or that have `null` as value)
-are not touched.
+properties that are set in the [CheckerUpdateInput](#checker-update-input)
+entity are updated. Properties that are not set in the input (or that have
+`null` as value) are not touched.
 
 Unsetting properties:
 
@@ -174,6 +174,20 @@
 
 ## <a id="json-entities"> JSON Entities
 
+### <a id="checker-create-input"> CheckerCreateInput
+The `CheckerCreateInput` entity contains information for creating a checker.
+
+| Field Name      |          | Description |
+| --------------- | -------- | ----------- |
+| `uuid`          |          | The [UUID](#checker-id) of the checker.
+| `name`          |          | The name of the checker.
+| `description`   | optional | The description of the checker.
+| `url`           | optional | The URL of the checker.
+| `repository`    |          | The (exact) name of the repository for which the checker applies.
+| `status`        | optional | The status of the checker; one of `ENABLED` or `DISABLED`.
+| `blocking`      | optional | A list of [conditions](#blocking-conditions) that describe when the checker should block change submission.
+| `query`         | optional | A [query](#query) that limits changes for which the checker is relevant.
+
 ### <a id="checker-info"> CheckerInfo
 The `CheckerInfo` entity describes a checker.
 
@@ -190,12 +204,12 @@
 | `created`       |          | The [timestamp](../../../Documentation/rest-api.html#timestamp) of when the checker was created.
 | `updated`       |          | The [timestamp](../../../Documentation/rest-api.html#timestamp) of when the checker was last updated.
 
-### <a id="checker-input"> CheckerInput
-The `CheckerInput` entity contains information for creating a checker.
+### <a id="checker-update-input"> CheckerUpdateInput
+The `CheckerUpdateInput` entity contains information for updating a checker.
 
 | Field Name      |          | Description |
 | --------------- | -------- | ----------- |
-| `name`          | optional | The name of the checker. Must be specified for checker creation.
+| `name`          | optional | The name of the checker.
 | `description`   | optional | The description of the checker.
 | `url`           | optional | The URL of the checker.
 | `repository`    | optional | The (exact) name of the repository for which the checker applies.
diff --git a/resources/Documentation/rest-api-checks.md b/resources/Documentation/rest-api-checks.md
index 4e30e94..4bcd1a1 100644
--- a/resources/Documentation/rest-api-checks.md
+++ b/resources/Documentation/rest-api-checks.md
@@ -161,29 +161,30 @@
 ### <a id="check-info"> CheckInfo
 The `CheckInfo` entity describes a check.
 
-| Field Name        |          | Description |
-| ----------------- | -------- | ----------- |
-| `repository`      |          | The repository name that this check applies to.
-| `change_number`   |          | The change number that this check applies to.
-| `patch_set_id`    |          | The patch set that this check applies to.
-| `checker_uuid`    |          | The [UUID](./rest-api-checkers.md#checker-id) of the checker that reported this check.
-| `state`           |          | The state as string-serialized form of [CheckState](#check-state)
-| `message`         | optional | Short message explaining the check state.
-| `url`             | optional | A fully-qualified URL pointing to the result of the check on the checker's infrastructure.
-| `started`         | optional | The [timestamp](../../../Documentation/rest-api.html#timestamp) of when the check started processing.
-| `finished`        | optional | The [timestamp](../../../Documentation/rest-api.html#timestamp) of when the check finished processing.
-| `created`         |          | The [timestamp](../../../Documentation/rest-api.html#timestamp) of when the check was created.
-| `updated`         |          | The [timestamp](../../../Documentation/rest-api.html#timestamp) of when the check was last updated.
-| `checker_name`    | optional | The name of the checker that produced this check.<br />Only set if [checker details](#option-checker) are requested.
-| `checker_status`  | optional | The [status](rest-api-checkers.md#checker-info) of the checker that produced this check.<br />Only set if [checker details](#option-checker) are requested.
-| `blocking`        | optional | Set of [blocking conditions](rest-api-checkers.md#blocking-conditions) that apply to this checker.<br />Only set if [checker details](#option-checker) are requested.
+| Field Name            |          | Description |
+| --------------------- | -------- | ----------- |
+| `repository`          |          | The repository name that this check applies to.
+| `change_number`       |          | The change number that this check applies to.
+| `patch_set_id`        |          | The patch set that this check applies to.
+| `checker_uuid`        |          | The [UUID](./rest-api-checkers.md#checker-id) of the checker that reported this check.
+| `state`               |          | The state as string-serialized form of [CheckState](#check-state)
+| `message`             | optional | Short message explaining the check state.
+| `url`                 | optional | A fully-qualified URL pointing to the result of the check on the checker's infrastructure.
+| `started`             | optional | The [timestamp](../../../Documentation/rest-api.html#timestamp) of when the check started processing.
+| `finished`            | optional | The [timestamp](../../../Documentation/rest-api.html#timestamp) of when the check finished processing.
+| `created`             |          | The [timestamp](../../../Documentation/rest-api.html#timestamp) of when the check was created.
+| `updated`             |          | The [timestamp](../../../Documentation/rest-api.html#timestamp) of when the check was last updated.
+| `checker_name`        | optional | The name of the checker that produced this check.<br />Only set if [checker details](#option-checker) are requested.
+| `checker_status`      | optional | The [status](rest-api-checkers.md#checker-info) of the checker that produced this check.<br />Only set if [checker details](#option-checker) are requested.
+| `blocking`            | optional | Set of [blocking conditions](rest-api-checkers.md#blocking-conditions) that apply to this checker.<br />Only set if [checker details](#option-checker) are requested.
+| `checker_description` | optional | The description of the checker that reported this check.
 
 ### <a id="check-input"> CheckInput
 The `CheckInput` entity contains information for creating or updating a check.
 
 | Field Name      |          | Description |
 | --------------- | -------- | ----------- |
-| `checker_uuid`  | optional | The name of the checker. Must be specified for checker creation. Optional only if updating a check and referencing the checker using the [UUID](./rest-api-checkers.md#checker-id) in the URL.
+| `checker_uuid`  | optional | The [UUID](#checker-id) of the checker. Must be specified for check creation. Optional only if updating a check and referencing the checker using the [UUID](./rest-api-checkers.md#checker-id) in the URL.
 | `state`         | optional | The state as string-serialized form of [CheckState](#check-state)
 | `message`       | optional | Short message explaining the check state.
 | `url`           | optional | A fully-qualified URL pointing to the result of the check on the checker's infrastructure.
diff --git a/resources/Documentation/rest-api-pending-checks.md b/resources/Documentation/rest-api-pending-checks.md
index c28c0a1..91771e3 100644
--- a/resources/Documentation/rest-api-pending-checks.md
+++ b/resources/Documentation/rest-api-pending-checks.md
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@
 #### Request by checker
 
 ```
-  GET /plugins/@PLUGIN@/checks.pending/?query=checker=test:my-checker+(state:NOT_STARTED+OR+state:SCHEDULED) HTTP/1.0
+  GET /plugins/@PLUGIN@/checks.pending/?query=checker:test:my-checker+(state:NOT_STARTED+OR+state:SCHEDULED) HTTP/1.0
 ```
 
 As response a list of [PendingChecksInfo](#pending-checks-info)