diff --git a/src/utils/setup/setupAptPack.ts b/src/utils/setup/setupAptPack.ts
index 196d9456..164246c2 100644
--- a/src/utils/setup/setupAptPack.ts
+++ b/src/utils/setup/setupAptPack.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
-/* eslint-disable require-atomic-updates */
 import { InstallationInfo } from "./setupBin"
 import { execRoot, execRootSync } from "admina"
-import { info } from "@actions/core"
 import { GITHUB_ACTIONS } from "ci-info"
 import { addEnv, cpprc_path, setupCppInProfile } from "../env/addEnv"
 import which from "which"
@@ -10,7 +8,9 @@ import { promises as fsPromises } from "fs"
 const { appendFile } = fsPromises
 import { execa } from "execa"
 import escapeRegex from "escape-string-regexp"
+import { warning, info } from "ci-log"
 
+/* eslint-disable require-atomic-updates */
 let didUpdate: boolean = false
 let didInit: boolean = false
 
@@ -67,11 +67,15 @@ async function getAptArg(name: string, version: string | undefined) {
     if (stdout.trim() !== "") {
       return `${name}-${version}`
     } else {
-      return `${name}=${version}`
+      // check if apt-get show can find the version
+      const { stdout: showStdout } = await execa("apt-get", ["show", `${name}=${version}`])
+      if (showStdout.trim() === "") {
+        return `${name}=${version}`
+      }
+      warning(`Failed to install ${name} ${version} via apt, trying without version`)
     }
-  } else {
-    return name
   }
+  return name
 }
 
 function getApt() {