diff --git a/package/base-files/files/lib/functions.sh b/package/base-files/files/lib/functions.sh
index e944d365056..18bf79251d2 100644
--- a/package/base-files/files/lib/functions.sh
+++ b/package/base-files/files/lib/functions.sh
@@ -216,6 +216,10 @@ default_prerm() {
 	local filelist="${root}/usr/lib/opkg/info/${pkgname}.list"
 	[ -f "$root/lib/apk/packages/${pkgname}.list" ] && filelist="$root/lib/apk/packages/${pkgname}.list"
 
+	if [ -e "$root/lib/apk/packages/${pkgname}.alternatives" ]; then
+		update_alternatives remove "${pkgname}"
+	fi
+
 	if [ -f "$root/usr/lib/opkg/info/${pkgname}.prerm-pkg" ]; then
 		( . "$root/usr/lib/opkg/info/${pkgname}.prerm-pkg" )
 		ret=$?
@@ -352,8 +356,7 @@ default_postinst() {
 		add_group_and_user "${pkgname}"
 	fi
 
-	if [ -e "${root}/lib/apk/packages/${pkgname}.list" ]; then
-		filelist="${root}/lib/apk/packages/${pkgname}.list"
+	if [ -e "${root}/lib/apk/packages/${pkgname}.alternatives" ]; then
 		update_alternatives install "${pkgname}"
 	fi