diff --git a/manifests/params.pp b/manifests/params.pp
index 7b4a5939..aece959d 100644
--- a/manifests/params.pp
+++ b/manifests/params.pp
@@ -29,7 +29,10 @@
       $nodejs_dev_package_name   = 'libnode-dev'
       $nodejs_dev_package_ensure = 'absent'
       $nodejs_package_name       = 'nodejs'
-      $npm_package_ensure        = 'absent'
+      $npm_package_ensure        = $repo_url_suffix ? {
+        '16.x'  => 'present',
+        default => 'absent',
+      }
       $npm_package_name          = 'npm'
       $npm_path                  = '/usr/bin/npm'
       $repo_class                = 'nodejs::repo::nodesource'