diff --git a/conf/type/__apt_update_index/gencode-remote b/conf/type/__apt_update_index/gencode-remote
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..e66ff7a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/conf/type/__apt_update_index/gencode-remote
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+#
+# 2011 Steven Armstrong (steven-cdist at armstrong.cc)
+#
+# 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/>.
+#
+
+# run 'apt-get update' if anything in /etc/apt is newer then /var/lib/apt/lists
+cat << DONE
+if find /etc/apt -cnewer /var/lib/apt/lists | grep . > /dev/null; then
+   apt-get update || apt-get update
+fi
+DONE
diff --git a/conf/type/__apt_update_index/man.text b/conf/type/__apt_update_index/man.text
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..778af508
--- /dev/null
+++ b/conf/type/__apt_update_index/man.text
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+cdist-type__apt_update_index(7)
+===============================
+Steven Armstrong <steven-cdist--@--armstrong.cc>
+
+
+NAME
+----
+cdist-type__apt_update_index - update apt's package index
+
+
+DESCRIPTION
+-----------
+This cdist type runs apt-get update whenever any apt sources have changed.
+
+
+REQUIRED PARAMETERS
+-------------------
+None.
+
+OPTIONAL PARAMETERS
+-------------------
+None.
+
+
+EXAMPLES
+--------
+
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+__apt_update_index
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+SEE ALSO
+--------
+- cdist-type(7)
+
+
+COPYING
+-------
+Copyright \(C) 2011 Steven Armstrong. Free use of this software is
+granted under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 3 (GPLv3).