diff --git a/cdist/conf/type/__hostname/explorer/has_hostnamectl b/cdist/conf/type/__hostname/explorer/has_hostnamectl
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..9040023d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cdist/conf/type/__hostname/explorer/has_hostnamectl
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+#
+# 2014 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/>.
+#
+#
+# Check whether system has hostnamectl
+#
+
+command -v hostnamectl || true
diff --git a/cdist/conf/type/__hostname/explorer/hostname_file b/cdist/conf/type/__hostname/explorer/hostname_file
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..ed28c8a8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cdist/conf/type/__hostname/explorer/hostname_file
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+#
+# 2014 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 contents of /etc/hostname
+#
+
+if [ -f /etc/hostname ]; then
+    cat /etc/hostname
+fi
diff --git a/cdist/conf/type/__hostname/gencode-remote b/cdist/conf/type/__hostname/gencode-remote
index 6760507f..3d208cbe 100755
--- a/cdist/conf/type/__hostname/gencode-remote
+++ b/cdist/conf/type/__hostname/gencode-remote
@@ -20,20 +20,31 @@
 #
 
 if [ -f "$__object/parameter/name" ]; then
-    name="$(cat "$__object/parameter/name")"
+    name_should="$(cat "$__object/parameter/name")"
 else
-    name="$(echo "${__target_host%%.*}")"
+    name_should="$(echo "${__target_host%%.*}")"
 fi
 
 os=$(cat "$__global/explorer/os")
+name_running=$(cat "$__global/explorer/hostname")
+name_config=$(cat "$__object/explorer/hostname_file")
+has_hostnamectl=$(cat "$__object/explorer/has_hostnamectl")
 
-echo "printf '%s\n' '$name' > /etc/hostname"
+################################################################################
+# If everything is ok -> exit
+#
+if [ "$name_config" = "$name_should" -a "$name_running" = "$name_should" ]; then
+    exit 0
+fi
 
-case "$os" in
-   debian|ubuntu)
-      echo "hostname \"$name\""
-   ;;
-   archlinux)
-      echo "hostnamectl set-hostname \"$name\""
-   ;;
-esac
+################################################################################
+# Setup hostname
+#
+echo changed >> "$__messages_out"
+
+if [ "$has_hostnamectl" ]; then
+    echo "hostnamectl set-hostname '$name_should'"
+else
+    echo "hostname '$name_should'"
+    echo "printf '%s\n' '$name_should' > /etc/hostname"
+fi
diff --git a/cdist/conf/type/__hostname/man.text b/cdist/conf/type/__hostname/man.text
index 07ec1083..ac44d426 100644
--- a/cdist/conf/type/__hostname/man.text
+++ b/cdist/conf/type/__hostname/man.text
@@ -24,6 +24,11 @@ name::
    (${__target_host%%.*})
 
 
+MESSAGES
+--------
+changed::
+    Changed the hostname
+
 EXAMPLES
 --------