diff --git a/site-cookbooks/backup/recipes/default.rb b/site-cookbooks/backup/recipes/default.rb
index dd76761..bf6db5a 100644
--- a/site-cookbooks/backup/recipes/default.rb
+++ b/site-cookbooks/backup/recipes/default.rb
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@
 
 build_essential 'backup gem'
 
-package ["ruby", "ruby-dev"]
+# Don't try to install packages on older Ubuntu, the repositories are 404
+package ["ruby", "ruby-dev"] if node[:platform_version].to_f >= 16.04
 
 gem_package 'backup' do
   version '5.0.0.beta.2'