diff --git a/cdist/conf/type/__sensible_editor/explorer/editor_path b/cdist/conf/type/__sensible_editor/explorer/editor_path
index 8b10b17b..b0de2f0a 100644
--- a/cdist/conf/type/__sensible_editor/explorer/editor_path
+++ b/cdist/conf/type/__sensible_editor/explorer/editor_path
@@ -35,7 +35,10 @@ case $("${__explorer}/os")
 in
 	debian|devuan|ubuntu)
 		has_alternatives=true
-		editors=$(update-alternatives --list editor)
+
+		# NOTE: Old versions do not support `--list`, in this case ignore the errors.
+		#       This will require an absolute path to be provided, though.
+		editors=$(update-alternatives --list editor 2>/dev/null)
 		;;
 	*)
 		# NOTE: RedHat has an alternatives system but it doesn't usually track
diff --git a/cdist/conf/type/__sensible_editor/manifest b/cdist/conf/type/__sensible_editor/manifest
index 56a6b02f..2ad8c54e 100644
--- a/cdist/conf/type/__sensible_editor/manifest
+++ b/cdist/conf/type/__sensible_editor/manifest
@@ -19,35 +19,47 @@
 # along with cdist. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #
 
+not_supported() {
+	echo "OS ${os} does not support __sensible_editor." >&2
+	echo 'If it does, please provide a patch.' >&2
+	exit 1
+}
+
 os=$(cat "${__global}/explorer/os")
 
 state=$(cat "${__object}/parameter/state")
 user=$__object_id
 
-case $os
-in
-	debian|devuan|ubuntu)
-		test "${state}" != 'absent' \
-			&& __package sensible-utils --state present --type apt
-		;;
-	centos|fedora|redhat|scientific)
-		test "${state}" != 'absent' \
-			&& __package sensible-utils --state present --type yum
-		;;
-	*)
-		echo "OS ${os} does not support sensible-editor." >&2
-		echo "If it does, please provide a patch." >&2
-		exit 1
-		;;
-esac
-
 if test "${state}" != 'present' && test "${state}" != 'absent'
 then
 	echo 'Only "present" and "absent" are allowed for --state' >&2
 	exit 1
 fi
 
-test "${state}" = 'absent' || export __require='__package/sensible-utils'
+case $os
+in
+	debian)
+		pkg_type='apt'
+		;;
+	devuan)
+		pkg_type='apt'
+		;;
+	ubuntu)
+		pkg_type='apt'
+		;;
+	centos|fedora|redhat|scientific)
+		pkg_type='yum'
+		;;
+	*)
+		not_supported
+		;;
+esac
+
+if test "${state}" != 'absent'
+then
+	__package sensible-utils --state present --type "${pkg_type}"
+	export __require='__package/sensible-utils'
+fi
 
 editor_path=$(cat "${__object}/explorer/editor_path")
 user_home=$(cat "${__object}/explorer/user_home")