diff --git a/insights/parsers/saphostctrl.py b/insights/parsers/saphostctrl.py
index d628eba81..66c41fd67 100644
--- a/insights/parsers/saphostctrl.py
+++ b/insights/parsers/saphostctrl.py
@@ -108,8 +108,12 @@ def parse_content(self, content):
             inst[fields[0]] = fields[2]
 
             if fields[0] == 'InstanceName':
+                short_type = fields[2].strip('0123456789')
+                # Back forward compatible: a short InstanceType was from the InstanceName
+                if 'InstanceType' not in inst:
+                    inst.update(dict(InstanceType=short_type))
                 self.instances.append(fields[2])
-                _types.add(fields[2].strip('0123456789'))
+                _types.add(short_type)
             _sids.add(fields[2]) if fields[0] == 'SID' else None
 
         if len(self) < 1:
diff --git a/insights/tests/parsers/test_saphostctrl.py b/insights/tests/parsers/test_saphostctrl.py
index 3dfe629a6..bd0a6859e 100644
--- a/insights/tests/parsers/test_saphostctrl.py
+++ b/insights/tests/parsers/test_saphostctrl.py
@@ -25,6 +25,28 @@
  SapVersionInfo , String , 749, patch 211, changelist 1754007
 '''
 
+SAPHOSTCTRL_HOSTINSTANCES_DOCS_OLD = '''
+*********************************************************
+ CreationClassName , String , SAPInstance
+ SID , String , D89
+ SystemNumber , String , 88
+ InstanceType , String , HANA Test
+ InstanceName , String , HDB88
+ Hostname , String , lu0417
+ FullQualifiedHostname , String , lu0417.example.com
+ IPAddress , String , 10.0.0.88
+ SapVersionInfo , String , 749, patch 211, changelist 1754007
+*********************************************************
+ CreationClassName , String , SAPInstance
+ SID , String , D90
+ SystemNumber , String , 90
+ InstanceName , String , HDB90
+ Hostname , String , lu0418
+ FullQualifiedHostname , String , lu0418.example.com
+ IPAddress , String , 10.0.0.90
+ SapVersionInfo , String , 749, patch 211, changelist 1754007
+'''
+
 SAPHOSTCTRL_HOSTINSTANCES_GOOD = '''
 *********************************************************
  SID , String , D89
@@ -157,6 +179,13 @@ def test_saphostctrl():
     ])
 
 
+def test_saphostctrl_old():
+    sap = SAPHostCtrlInstances(context_wrap(SAPHOSTCTRL_HOSTINSTANCES_DOCS_OLD))
+    assert sap.types == ['HDB']  # short types only
+    assert sap[0]['InstanceType'] == 'HANA Test'
+    assert sap[1]['InstanceType'] == 'HDB'
+
+
 def test_saphostctrl_bad():
     with pytest.raises(SkipException):
         SAPHostCtrlInstances(context_wrap(''))