diff --git a/lib/puppet/type/yumrepo.rb b/lib/puppet/type/yumrepo.rb
index d188d752f..d6de1b369 100644
--- a/lib/puppet/type/yumrepo.rb
+++ b/lib/puppet/type/yumrepo.rb
@@ -1,311 +1,312 @@
 require 'uri'
 
 Puppet::Type.newtype(:yumrepo) do
   @doc = "The client-side description of a yum repository. Repository
     configurations are found by parsing `/etc/yum.conf` and
     the files indicated by the `reposdir` option in that file
     (see `yum.conf(5)` for details).
 
     Most parameters are identical to the ones documented
     in the `yum.conf(5)` man page.
 
     Continuation lines that yum supports (for the `baseurl`, for example)
     are not supported. This type does not attempt to read or verify the
     exinstence of files listed in the `include` attribute."
 
   # Ensure yumrepos can be removed too.
   ensurable
   # Doc string for properties that can be made 'absent'
   ABSENT_DOC="Set this to `absent` to remove it from the file completely."
   # False can be false/0/no and True can be true/1/yes in yum.
   YUM_BOOLEAN=/(True|False|0|1|No|Yes)/i
   YUM_BOOLEAN_DOC="Valid values are: False/0/No or True/1/Yes."
 
   VALID_SCHEMES = %w[file http https ftp]
 
   newparam(:name, :namevar => true) do
     desc "The name of the repository.  This corresponds to the
      `repositoryid` parameter in `yum.conf(5)`."
   end
 
   newparam(:target) do
     desc "The filename to write the yum repository to."
 
     defaultto :absent
   end
 
   newproperty(:descr) do
     desc "A human-readable description of the repository.
       This corresponds to the name parameter in `yum.conf(5)`.
       #{ABSENT_DOC}"
 
     newvalues(/.*/, :absent)
   end
 
   newproperty(:mirrorlist) do
     desc "The URL that holds the list of mirrors for this repository.
       #{ABSENT_DOC}"
 
     newvalues(/.*/, :absent)
     validate do |value|
       next if value.to_s == 'absent'
       parsed = URI.parse(value)
 
       unless VALID_SCHEMES.include?(parsed.scheme)
         raise "Must be a valid URL"
       end
     end
   end
 
   newproperty(:baseurl) do
     desc "The URL for this repository. #{ABSENT_DOC}"
 
     newvalues(/.*/, :absent)
     validate do |value|
       next if value.to_s == 'absent'
 
       value.split(/\s+/).each do |uri|
 
         parsed = URI.parse(uri)
 
         unless VALID_SCHEMES.include?(parsed.scheme)
           raise "Must be a valid URL"
         end
       end
     end
   end
 
   newproperty(:enabled) do
     desc "Whether this repository is enabled.
     #{YUM_BOOLEAN_DOC}
     #{ABSENT_DOC}"
 
     newvalues(YUM_BOOLEAN, :absent)
   end
 
   newproperty(:gpgcheck) do
     desc "Whether to check the GPG signature on packages installed
       from this repository.
       #{YUM_BOOLEAN_DOC}
       #{ABSENT_DOC}"
 
     newvalues(YUM_BOOLEAN, :absent)
   end
 
   newproperty(:repo_gpgcheck) do
     desc "Whether to check the GPG signature on repodata.
       #{YUM_BOOLEAN_DOC}
       #{ABSENT_DOC}"
 
     newvalues(YUM_BOOLEAN, :absent)
   end
 
   newproperty(:gpgkey) do
     desc "The URL for the GPG key with which packages from this
       repository are signed. #{ABSENT_DOC}"
 
     newvalues(/.*/, :absent)
     validate do |value|
       next if value.to_s == 'absent'
 
       value.split(/\s+/).each do |uri|
 
         parsed = URI.parse(uri)
 
         unless VALID_SCHEMES.include?(parsed.scheme)
           raise "Must be a valid URL"
         end
       end
     end
   end
 
   newproperty(:include) do
     desc "The URL of a remote file containing additional yum configuration
       settings. Puppet does not check for this file's existence or validity.
       #{ABSENT_DOC}"
 
     newvalues(/.*/, :absent)
     validate do |value|
       next if value.to_s == 'absent'
       parsed = URI.parse(value)
 
       unless VALID_SCHEMES.include?(parsed.scheme)
         raise "Must be a valid URL"
       end
     end
   end
 
   newproperty(:exclude) do
     desc "List of shell globs. Matching packages will never be
       considered in updates or installs for this repo.
       #{ABSENT_DOC}"
 
     newvalues(/.*/, :absent)
   end
 
   newproperty(:includepkgs) do
     desc "List of shell globs. If this is set, only packages
       matching one of the globs will be considered for
       update or install from this repo. #{ABSENT_DOC}"
 
     newvalues(/.*/, :absent)
   end
 
   newproperty(:enablegroups) do
     desc "Whether yum will allow the use of package groups for this
       repository.
       #{YUM_BOOLEAN_DOC}
       #{ABSENT_DOC}"
 
     newvalues(YUM_BOOLEAN, :absent)
   end
 
   newproperty(:failovermethod) do
     desc "The failover method for this repository; should be either
       `roundrobin` or `priority`. #{ABSENT_DOC}"
 
     newvalues(/roundrobin|priority/, :absent)
   end
 
   newproperty(:keepalive) do
     desc "Whether HTTP/1.1 keepalive should be used with this repository.
       #{YUM_BOOLEAN_DOC}
       #{ABSENT_DOC}"
 
     newvalues(YUM_BOOLEAN, :absent)
   end
 
   newproperty(:http_caching) do
     desc "What to cache from this repository. #{ABSENT_DOC}"
 
     newvalues(/(packages|all|none)/, :absent)
   end
 
   newproperty(:timeout) do
     desc "Number of seconds to wait for a connection before timing
       out. #{ABSENT_DOC}"
 
     newvalues(/[0-9]+/, :absent)
   end
 
   newproperty(:metadata_expire) do
     desc "Number of seconds after which the metadata will expire.
       #{ABSENT_DOC}"
 
     newvalues(/[0-9]+/, :absent)
   end
 
   newproperty(:protect) do
     desc "Enable or disable protection for this repository. Requires
       that the `protectbase` plugin is installed and enabled.
       #{YUM_BOOLEAN_DOC}
       #{ABSENT_DOC}"
 
     newvalues(YUM_BOOLEAN, :absent)
   end
 
   newproperty(:priority) do
     desc "Priority of this repository from 1-99. Requires that
       the `priorities` plugin is installed and enabled.
       #{ABSENT_DOC}"
 
     newvalues(/.*/, :absent)
     validate do |value|
-      unless value == :absent or (1..99).include?(value.to_i)
+      next if value.to_s == 'absent'
+      unless (1..99).include?(value.to_i)
         fail("Must be within range 1-99")
       end
     end
   end
 
   newproperty(:cost) do
     desc "Cost of this repository. #{ABSENT_DOC}"
 
     newvalues(/\d+/, :absent)
   end
 
   newproperty(:proxy) do
     desc "URL to the proxy server for this repository. #{ABSENT_DOC}"
 
     newvalues(/.*/, :absent)
     validate do |value|
       next if value.to_s == 'absent'
       parsed = URI.parse(value)
 
       unless VALID_SCHEMES.include?(parsed.scheme)
         raise "Must be a valid URL"
       end
     end
   end
 
   newproperty(:proxy_username) do
     desc "Username for this proxy. #{ABSENT_DOC}"
 
     newvalues(/.*/, :absent)
   end
 
   newproperty(:proxy_password) do
     desc "Password for this proxy. #{ABSENT_DOC}"
 
     newvalues(/.*/, :absent)
   end
 
   newproperty(:s3_enabled) do
     desc "Access the repo via S3.
       #{YUM_BOOLEAN_DOC}
       #{ABSENT_DOC}"
 
     newvalues(YUM_BOOLEAN, :absent)
   end
 
   newproperty(:sslcacert) do
     desc "Path to the directory containing the databases of the
       certificate authorities yum should use to verify SSL certificates.
       #{ABSENT_DOC}"
 
     newvalues(/.*/, :absent)
   end
 
   newproperty(:sslverify) do
     desc "Should yum verify SSL certificates/hosts at all.
       #{YUM_BOOLEAN_DOC}
       #{ABSENT_DOC}"
 
     newvalues(YUM_BOOLEAN, :absent)
   end
 
   newproperty(:sslclientcert) do
     desc "Path  to the SSL client certificate yum should use to connect
       to repos/remote sites. #{ABSENT_DOC}"
 
     newvalues(/.*/, :absent)
   end
 
   newproperty(:sslclientkey) do
     desc "Path to the SSL client key yum should use to connect
       to repos/remote sites. #{ABSENT_DOC}"
 
     newvalues(/.*/, :absent)
   end
 
   newproperty(:metalink) do
     desc "Metalink for mirrors. #{ABSENT_DOC}"
 
     newvalues(/.*/, :absent)
     validate do |value|
       next if value.to_s == 'absent'
       parsed = URI.parse(value)
 
       unless VALID_SCHEMES.include?(parsed.scheme)
         raise "Must be a valid URL"
       end
     end
   end
 
   newproperty(:skip_if_unavailable) do
     desc "Should yum skip this repository if unable to reach it.
       #{YUM_BOOLEAN_DOC}
       #{ABSENT_DOC}"
 
     newvalues(YUM_BOOLEAN, :absent)
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/unit/type/yumrepo_spec.rb b/spec/unit/type/yumrepo_spec.rb
index 90f0f5fc7..b97c60666 100644
--- a/spec/unit/type/yumrepo_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/type/yumrepo_spec.rb
@@ -1,248 +1,251 @@
 require 'spec_helper'
 require 'puppet'
 
 shared_examples_for "a yumrepo parameter that can be absent" do |param|
   it "can be set as :absent" do
     described_class.new(:name => 'puppetlabs', param => :absent)
   end
+  it "can be set as \"absent\"" do
+    described_class.new(:name => 'puppetlabs', param => 'absent')
+  end
 end
 
 shared_examples_for "a yumrepo parameter that expects a boolean parameter" do |param|
   valid_values = %w[True False 0 1 No Yes]
 
   valid_values.each do |value|
     it "accepts a valid value of #{value}" do
       instance = described_class.new(:name => 'puppetlabs', param => value)
       expect(instance[param]).to eq value
     end
     it "accepts #{value} downcased to #{value.downcase}" do
       instance = described_class.new(:name => 'puppetlabs', param => value.downcase)
       expect(instance[param]).to eq value.downcase
     end
   end
 
   it "rejects invalid boolean values" do
     expect {
       described_class.new(:name => 'puppetlabs', param => 'flase')
     }.to raise_error(Puppet::ResourceError, /Parameter #{param} failed/)
   end
 end
 
 shared_examples_for "a yumrepo parameter that accepts a single URL" do |param|
   it "can accept a single URL" do
     described_class.new(
       :name => 'puppetlabs',
       param => 'http://localhost/yumrepos'
     )
   end
 
   it "fails if an invalid URL is provided" do
     expect {
       described_class.new(
         :name => 'puppetlabs',
         param => "that's no URL!"
       )
     }.to raise_error(Puppet::ResourceError, /Parameter #{param} failed/)
   end
 
   it "fails if a valid URL uses an invalid URI scheme" do
     expect {
       described_class.new(
         :name => 'puppetlabs',
         param => 'ldap://localhost/yumrepos'
       )
     }.to raise_error(Puppet::ResourceError, /Parameter #{param} failed/)
   end
 end
 
 shared_examples_for "a yumrepo parameter that accepts multiple URLs" do |param|
   it "can accept multiple URLs" do
     described_class.new(
       :name => 'puppetlabs',
       param => 'http://localhost/yumrepos http://localhost/more-yumrepos'
     )
   end
 
   it "fails if multiple URLs are given and one is invalid" do
     expect {
       described_class.new(
         :name => 'puppetlabs',
         param => "http://localhost/yumrepos That's no URL!"
       )
     }.to raise_error(Puppet::ResourceError, /Parameter #{param} failed/)
   end
 end
 
 describe Puppet::Type.type(:yumrepo) do
   it "has :name as its namevar" do
     expect(described_class.key_attributes).to eq [:name]
   end
 
   describe "validating" do
 
     describe "name" do
       it "is a valid parameter" do
         instance = described_class.new(:name => 'puppetlabs')
         expect(instance.name).to eq 'puppetlabs'
       end
     end
 
     describe "target" do
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that can be absent", :target
     end
 
     describe "descr" do
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that can be absent", :descr
     end
 
     describe "mirrorlist" do
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that accepts a single URL", :mirrorlist
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that can be absent", :mirrorlist
     end
 
     describe "baseurl" do
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that can be absent", :baseurl
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that accepts a single URL", :baseurl
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that accepts multiple URLs", :baseurl
     end
 
     describe "enabled" do
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that expects a boolean parameter", :enabled
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that can be absent", :enabled
     end
 
     describe "gpgcheck" do
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that expects a boolean parameter", :gpgcheck
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that can be absent", :gpgcheck
     end
 
     describe "repo_gpgcheck" do
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that expects a boolean parameter", :repo_gpgcheck
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that can be absent", :repo_gpgcheck
     end
 
     describe "gpgkey" do
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that can be absent", :gpgkey
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that accepts a single URL", :gpgkey
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that accepts multiple URLs", :gpgkey
     end
 
     describe "include" do
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that can be absent", :include
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that accepts a single URL", :include
     end
 
     describe "exclude" do
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that can be absent", :exclude
     end
 
     describe "includepkgs" do
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that can be absent", :includepkgs
     end
 
     describe "enablegroups" do
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that expects a boolean parameter", :enablegroups
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that can be absent", :enablegroups
     end
 
     describe "failovermethod" do
 
       %w[roundrobin priority].each do |value|
         it "accepts a value of #{value}" do
           described_class.new(:name => "puppetlabs", :failovermethod => value)
         end
       end
 
       it "raises an error if an invalid value is given" do
         expect {
           described_class.new(:name => "puppetlabs", :failovermethod => "notavalidvalue")
         }.to raise_error(Puppet::ResourceError, /Parameter failovermethod failed/)
       end
 
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that can be absent", :failovermethod
     end
 
     describe "keepalive" do
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that expects a boolean parameter", :keepalive
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that can be absent", :keepalive
     end
 
     describe "http_caching" do
       %w[packages all none].each do |value|
         it "accepts a valid value of #{value}" do
           described_class.new(:name => 'puppetlabs', :http_caching => value)
         end
       end
 
       it "rejects invalid values" do
         expect {
           described_class.new(:name => 'puppetlabs', :http_caching => 'yes')
         }.to raise_error(Puppet::ResourceError, /Parameter http_caching failed/)
       end
 
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that can be absent", :http_caching
     end
 
     describe "timeout" do
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that can be absent", :timeout
     end
 
     describe "metadata_expire" do
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that can be absent", :metadata_expire
     end
 
     describe "protect" do
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that expects a boolean parameter", :protect
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that can be absent", :protect
     end
 
     describe "priority" do
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that can be absent", :priority
     end
 
     describe "proxy" do
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that can be absent", :proxy
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that accepts a single URL", :proxy
     end
 
     describe "proxy_username" do
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that can be absent", :proxy_username
     end
 
     describe "proxy_password" do
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that can be absent", :proxy_password
     end
 
     describe "s3_enabled" do
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that expects a boolean parameter", :s3_enabled
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that can be absent", :s3_enabled
     end
 
     describe "skip_if_unavailable" do
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that expects a boolean parameter", :skip_if_unavailable
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that can be absent", :skip_if_unavailable
     end
 
     describe "sslcacert" do
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that can be absent", :sslcacert
     end
 
     describe "sslverify" do
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that expects a boolean parameter", :sslverify
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that can be absent", :sslverify
     end
 
     describe "sslclientcert" do
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that can be absent", :sslclientcert
     end
 
     describe "sslclientkey" do
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that can be absent", :sslclientkey
     end
 
     describe "metalink" do
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that can be absent", :metalink
       it_behaves_like "a yumrepo parameter that accepts a single URL", :metalink
     end
   end
 end