diff --git a/util/install.sh b/util/install.sh
index 89f8639..0cb4414 100755
--- a/util/install.sh
+++ b/util/install.sh
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@ set -o nounset
 # Location of CONFIG_NET_NS-enabled kernel(s)
 KERNEL_LOC=http://www.openflow.org/downloads/mininet
 
-DIST=`lsb_release -is`
+test -e /etc/debian_version && DIST="Debian"
+grep Ubuntu /etc/lsb-release &> /dev/null && DIST="Ubuntu"
 
 # Kernel params
 # These kernels have been tried:
@@ -27,6 +28,8 @@ else
     exit 1
 fi
 
+echo "Detected Linux distribution: $DIST"
+
 # Kernel Deb pkg to be removed:
 KERNEL_IMAGE_OLD=linux-image-2.6.26-2-686