diff --git a/python-flit.changes b/python-flit.changes
index 59ca990..91c655b 100644
--- a/python-flit.changes
+++ b/python-flit.changes
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+-------------------------------------------------------------------
+Tue Aug 19 14:01:31 UTC 2025 - Markéta Machová <mmachova@suse.com>
+
+- Convert to libalternatives on SLE-16-based and newer systems only
+
 -------------------------------------------------------------------
 Tue Jul  8 13:53:24 UTC 2025 - Markéta Machová <mmachova@suse.com>
 
diff --git a/python-flit.spec b/python-flit.spec
index 4205fa7..f2a5db7 100644
--- a/python-flit.spec
+++ b/python-flit.spec
@@ -16,7 +16,11 @@
 #
 
 
+%if 0%{?suse_version} > 1500
 %bcond_without libalternatives
+%else
+%bcond_with libalternatives
+%endif
 %{?sle15_python_module_pythons}
 Name:           python-flit
 Version:        3.12.0
@@ -31,16 +35,21 @@ BuildRequires:  %{python_module flit-core >= %{version}}
 BuildRequires:  %{python_module pip}
 BuildRequires:  %{python_module requests}
 BuildRequires:  %{python_module tomli-w}
-BuildRequires:  alts
 BuildRequires:  fdupes
 BuildRequires:  python-rpm-macros
-Requires:       alts
 Requires:       python-docutils
 Requires:       python-flit-core >= %{version}
 Requires:       python-pip
 Requires:       python-requests
 Requires:       python-tomli-w
 BuildArch:      noarch
+%if %{with libalternatives}
+BuildRequires:  alts
+Requires:       alts
+%else
+Requires(post): update-alternatives
+Requires(postun): update-alternatives
+%endif
 # SECTION test requirements
 BuildRequires:  %{python_module pytest >= 2.7.3}
 BuildRequires:  %{python_module responses}
@@ -64,7 +73,7 @@ Simplified packaging of Python modules
 %python_expand %fdupes %{buildroot}%{$python_sitelib}
 
 %check
-%{python_expand # create python name interpreter for test_find_python_excutable"
+%{python_expand # create $python name interpreter for test_find_python_excutable"
 mkdir build/testbin
 ln -s %{_bindir}/$python build/testbin/python
 }
@@ -74,6 +83,12 @@ export PATH=$PWD/build/testbin/:$PATH
 # "The error you get on a train, going through Oregon, without wifi"
 %pytest -k "not (test_invalid_classifier or InstallTests)"
 
+%post
+%python_install_alternative flit
+
+%postun
+%python_uninstall_alternative flit
+
 %pre
 %python_libalternatives_reset_alternative flit