diff --git a/cdist/conf/type/__package_apt/gencode-remote b/cdist/conf/type/__package_apt/gencode-remote
index d9cc52b7..39584e30 100755
--- a/cdist/conf/type/__package_apt/gencode-remote
+++ b/cdist/conf/type/__package_apt/gencode-remote
@@ -78,9 +78,11 @@ case "$state_should" in
             name="${name}=${version}"
         fi
         echo $aptget install $target_release \"$name\"
+        echo "installed" >> "$__messages_out"
     ;;
     absent)
         echo $aptget remove $purgeparam \"$name\"
+        echo "removed" >> "$__messages_out"
     ;;
     *)
         echo "Unknown state: $state_should" >&2