diff --git a/elements/ubuntu/pre-install.d/00-remove-apt-xapian-index b/elements/ubuntu/pre-install.d/00-remove-apt-xapian-index
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..a50c6205
--- /dev/null
+++ b/elements/ubuntu/pre-install.d/00-remove-apt-xapian-index
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+# This package is broken and causes real issues on update:
+# https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/apt-xapian-index/+bug/1227420
+apt-get remove apt-xapian-index || :