diff --git a/mawk.changes b/mawk.changes
index 43d8809..3512be0 100644
--- a/mawk.changes
+++ b/mawk.changes
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+-------------------------------------------------------------------
+Thu Feb  4 10:41:36 UTC 2021 - Ludwig Nussel <lnussel@suse.de>
+
+- fix update-alternatives usage. Needs to be in %postun according to
+  https://en.opensuse.org/openSUSE:Packaging_Multiple_Version_guidelines#update-alternatives_mechanism
+
 -------------------------------------------------------------------
 Wed Dec 16 08:19:25 UTC 2020 - Ludwig Nussel <lnussel@suse.de>
 
diff --git a/mawk.spec b/mawk.spec
index 892d076..7990c82 100644
--- a/mawk.spec
+++ b/mawk.spec
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #
 # spec file for package mawk
 #
-# Copyright (c) 2020 SUSE LLC
+# Copyright (c) 2021 SUSE LLC
 # Copyright (c) 2010 Guido Berhoerster.
 #
 # All modifications and additions to the file contributed by third parties
@@ -83,8 +83,8 @@ make %{?_smp_mflags} check
 %endif
   --slave %{_mandir}/man1/awk.1.gz awk.1%{?ext_man} %{_mandir}/man1/mawk.1%{?ext_man}
 
-%preun
-if [ $1 -eq 0 ]; then
+%postun
+if [ ! -f %{_bindir}/mawk ]; then
     %{_sbindir}/update-alternatives --remove awk %{_bindir}/mawk
 fi