diff --git a/manifests/backports.pp b/manifests/backports.pp
index 83e3c49500..f2acb98a40 100644
--- a/manifests/backports.pp
+++ b/manifests/backports.pp
@@ -94,11 +94,14 @@
   if $pin =~ Hash {
     $_pin = $pin
   } elsif $pin =~ Numeric or $pin =~ String {
-    # apt::source defaults to pinning to origin, but we should pin to release
-    # for backports
+    $pin_type = $facts['os']['name'] ? {
+      'Debian' => 'codename',
+      'Ubuntu' => 'release',
+    }
+
     $_pin = {
       'priority' => $pin,
-      'release'  => $_release,
+      $pin_type  => $_release,
     }
   } else {
     fail('pin must be either a string, number or hash')
diff --git a/spec/classes/apt_backports_spec.rb b/spec/classes/apt_backports_spec.rb
index 23031ab73a..e051913aae 100644
--- a/spec/classes/apt_backports_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/classes/apt_backports_spec.rb
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
           release: 'bookworm-backports',
           pin: {
             'priority' => 200,
-            'release' => 'bookworm-backports'
+            'codename' => 'bookworm-backports'
           },
           keyring: '/usr/share/keyrings/debian-archive-keyring.gpg',
         )
@@ -146,88 +146,6 @@
     end
   end
 
-  describe 'linuxmint tests' do
-    let(:facts) do
-      {
-        os: {
-          family: 'Debian',
-          name: 'LinuxMint',
-          release: {
-            major: '17',
-            full: '17'
-          },
-          distro: {
-            codename: 'qiana',
-            id: 'LinuxMint'
-          }
-        }
-      }
-    end
-
-    context 'with all the needed things set' do
-      let(:params) do
-        {
-          location: 'http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu',
-          release: 'trusty-backports',
-          repos: 'main universe multiverse restricted',
-          key: '630239CC130E1A7FD81A27B140976EAF437D05B5'
-        }
-      end
-
-      it {
-        expect(subject).to contain_apt__source('backports').with(
-          location: 'http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu',
-          key: '630239CC130E1A7FD81A27B140976EAF437D05B5',
-          repos: 'main universe multiverse restricted',
-          release: 'trusty-backports',
-          pin: { 'priority' => 200, 'release' => 'trusty-backports' },
-        )
-      }
-    end
-
-    context 'with missing location' do
-      let(:params) do
-        {
-          release: 'trusty-backports',
-          repos: 'main universe multiverse restricted',
-          key: '630239CC130E1A7FD81A27B140976EAF437D05B5'
-        }
-      end
-
-      it do
-        expect(subject).to raise_error(Puppet::Error, %r{If not on Debian or Ubuntu, you must explicitly pass location, release, and repos})
-      end
-    end
-
-    context 'with missing release' do
-      let(:params) do
-        {
-          location: 'http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu',
-          repos: 'main universe multiverse restricted',
-          key: '630239CC130E1A7FD81A27B140976EAF437D05B5'
-        }
-      end
-
-      it do
-        expect(subject).to raise_error(Puppet::Error, %r{If not on Debian or Ubuntu, you must explicitly pass location, release, and repos})
-      end
-    end
-
-    context 'with missing repos' do
-      let(:params) do
-        {
-          location: 'http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu',
-          release: 'trusty-backports',
-          key: '630239CC130E1A7FD81A27B140976EAF437D05B5'
-        }
-      end
-
-      it do
-        expect(subject).to raise_error(Puppet::Error, %r{If not on Debian or Ubuntu, you must explicitly pass location, release, and repos})
-      end
-    end
-  end
-
   describe 'validation' do
     let(:facts) do
       {