diff --git a/library/yum b/library/yum
index da0d5ab492..87c2713d3e 100755
--- a/library/yum
+++ b/library/yum
@@ -318,14 +318,14 @@ def main():
             return 1, str(e)
             
     elif 'state' in params:
-        if 'pkg' not in params:
+        pkg = params.get('pkg', params.get('package', params.get('name', None))) 
+        if 'pkg' is None:
             results['msg'] = "No pkg specified"
         else:
             try:
                 my = yum_base(conf_file=params['conf_file'], cachedir=True)        
                 state = params['state']
-                pkgspec = params['pkg']
-                results = ensure(my, state, pkgspec)
+                results = ensure(my, state, pkg)
             except Exception, e:
                 return 1, str(e)