package libwebkitgtk-1.0-0:amd64 2.4.7-1~ubuntu1 failed to install/upgrade: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting configuration

[christof]

comes up on an almost clean and new ubuntu 14.04 installation, added a couple of packages like vim, keepassx, latex, chromium and external sources by dropbox and chrome. this failure message keeps popping up on different thinkpad t410 devices using different harddrives and different installations.

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: libwebkitgtk-1.0-0:amd64 2.4.7-1~ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-44.73-generic 3.13.11-ckt12
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-44-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.6
AptOrdering: libwebkitgtk-1.0-0: Configure
Architecture: amd64
Date: Tue Jan 27 01:23:34 2015
ErrorMessage: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting configuration
InstallationDate: Installed on 2015-01-22 (10 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140417)
SourcePackage: webkitgtk
Title: package libwebkitgtk-1.0-0:amd64 2.4.7-1~ubuntu1 failed to install/upgrade: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting configuration
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[christof (christofff)]

can be fixed with "apt-get install --reinstall libwebkitgtk-1.0-0" though.