diff --git a/spec/spec_helper_acceptance.rb b/spec/spec_helper_acceptance.rb
index 47f4bcb2f..bfa758429 100644
--- a/spec/spec_helper_acceptance.rb
+++ b/spec/spec_helper_acceptance.rb
@@ -2,11 +2,12 @@
 require 'beaker-rspec/helpers/serverspec'
 
 unless ENV['RS_PROVISION'] == 'no'
-  if hosts.first.is_pe?
-    install_pe
-  else
-    install_puppet
-  end
+  # This will install the latest available package on el and deb based
+  # systems fail on windows and osx, and install via gem on other *nixes
+  foss_opts = { :default_action => 'gem_install' }
+
+  if default.is_pe?; then install_pe; else install_puppet( foss_opts ); end
+
   hosts.each do |host|
     if host['platform'] =~ /debian/
       on host, 'echo \'export PATH=/var/lib/gems/1.8/bin/:${PATH}\' >> ~/.bashrc'