diff --git a/manifests/config.pp b/manifests/config.pp
index c7196f2c..78a424b9 100644
--- a/manifests/config.pp
+++ b/manifests/config.pp
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
   Python::Virtualenv <| |> -> Python::Pip <| |>
 
   if $python::manage_gunicorn {
-    if $python::gunicorn {
+    if $python::gunicorn != 'absent' {
       Class['python::install'] -> Python::Gunicorn <| |>
 
       Python::Gunicorn <| |> ~> Service['gunicorn']