diff --git a/conf/type/__package_apt/explorer/pkg_status b/conf/type/__package_apt/explorer/pkg_status
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..e13f8f5c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/conf/type/__package_apt/explorer/pkg_status
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+#
+# 2011 Nico Schottelius (nico-cdist at schottelius.org)
+#
+# This file is part of cdist.
+#
+# cdist is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# cdist is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with cdist. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+#
+#
+# Retrieve the status of a package - parsed dpkg output
+#
+
+if [ -f "$__object/parameter/name" ]; then
+   name="$(cat "$__object/parameter/name")"
+else
+   name="$__object_id"
+fi
+
+dpkg -l "$name" 2>/dev/null | awk '{ print $1 }'