--- tex-common-2.06/debian/postinst.in	2011-02-24 09:23:58.000000000 +0100
+++ tex-common-2.07/debian/postinst.in	2010-02-28 05:07:43.000000000 +0100
@@ -122,7 +122,12 @@
                     # we also have to check that texlive-base is installed
                     # and configured, otherwise we cannot be sure that
                     # all necessary basic files are present
-                    stat=$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Status}' texlive-base)
+                    #
+                    # dpkg-query has two defects wrt not existing packages
+                    # - it is noisy to stderr
+                    # - it returns 1
+                    # so shut both errors up
+                    stat=$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Status}' texlive-base 2>/dev/null || true)
                     case "$stat" in
                         "install ok installed")
                             do_it=1
@@ -364,7 +369,8 @@
     # and configured, otherwise we cannot be sure that
     # all necessary basic files are present
     if dhit_libkpathsea_configured; then
-        stat=$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Status}' texlive-base)
+        # see above for information on dpkg-query usage
+        stat=$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Status}' texlive-base  2>/dev/null || true)
         case "$stat" in
         "install ok installed")
             do_it=1