diff --git a/scripts/lib/install b/scripts/lib/install
index d1b09ba627..f1059ef93b 100755
--- a/scripts/lib/install
+++ b/scripts/lib/install
@@ -33,12 +33,12 @@ ZULIP_PATH="$(realpath $(dirname $0)/../..)"
 # setup-apt-repo does an `apt-get update`
 "$ZULIP_PATH"/scripts/lib/setup-apt-repo
 
-apt-get -y dist-upgrade $APT_OPTIONS
-apt-get install -y puppet git python python3 python-six python3-six crudini $ADDITIONAL_PACKAGES
-
 # Handle issues around upstart on Ubuntu Xenial
 "$ZULIP_PATH"/scripts/lib/check-upstart
 
+apt-get -y dist-upgrade $APT_OPTIONS
+apt-get install -y puppet git python python3 python-six python3-six crudini $ADDITIONAL_PACKAGES
+
 # Create and activate a virtualenv
 if [ "$VIRTUALENV_NEEDED" = "yes" ]; then
     "$ZULIP_PATH"/scripts/lib/create-production-venv "$ZULIP_PATH"