diff --git a/manifests/install.pp b/manifests/install.pp
index e6db8d04..993bb817 100644
--- a/manifests/install.pp
+++ b/manifests/install.pp
@@ -45,9 +45,17 @@
 
   # npm
   if $nodejs::npm_package_name and $nodejs::npm_package_name != false {
+    # the nodesource nodejs packages provide "npm" which makes Puppet
+    # try to uninstall them again
+    if $nodejs::npm_package_ensure == absent and $nodejs::manage_package_repo == true and $nodejs::repo_class == 'nodejs::repo::nodesource' {
+      $allow_virtual = false
+    } else {
+      $allow_virtual = undef
+    }
     package { $nodejs::npm_package_name:
-      ensure => $nodejs::npm_package_ensure,
-      tag    => 'nodesource_repo',
+      ensure        => $nodejs::npm_package_ensure,
+      allow_virtual => $allow_virtual,
+      tag           => 'nodesource_repo',
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/manifests/params.pp b/manifests/params.pp
index ff11fa3f..32e7c7a4 100644
--- a/manifests/params.pp
+++ b/manifests/params.pp
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@
       $nodejs_dev_package_name   = 'nodejs-devel'
       $nodejs_dev_package_ensure = 'absent'
       $nodejs_package_name       = 'nodejs'
-      $npm_package_ensure        = 'present'
+      $npm_package_ensure        = 'absent'
       $npm_package_name          = 'npm'
       $npm_path                  = '/usr/bin/npm'
       $repo_class                = 'nodejs::repo::nodesource'