diff --git a/lib/misc.zsh b/lib/misc.zsh
index 6d1a64e8d..9d458ab28 100644
--- a/lib/misc.zsh
+++ b/lib/misc.zsh
@@ -18,7 +18,12 @@ alias _='sudo'
 alias please='sudo'
 
 ## more intelligent acking for ubuntu users
-alias afind='ack-grep -il'
+if which ack-grep > /dev/null;
+then
+  alias afind='ack-grep -il'
+else
+  alias afind='ack -il'
+fi
 
 # only define LC_CTYPE if undefined
 if [[ -z "$LC_CTYPE" && -z "$LC_ALL" ]]; then