diff --git a/chef/cookbooks/mysql/recipes/ruby.rb b/chef/cookbooks/mysql/recipes/ruby.rb
index 9f0d9ad..2258244 100644
--- a/chef/cookbooks/mysql/recipes/ruby.rb
+++ b/chef/cookbooks/mysql/recipes/ruby.rb
@@ -44,8 +44,17 @@ node['mysql']['client']['packages'].each do |name|
   resources("package[#{name}]").run_action(:install)
 end
 
+# unknown reason cause chef-client not to honor .gemrc immediately
+# even not until timeout is reached, so specify the options explicitly.
 if node['local_repo'].nil? or node['local_repo'].empty?
-  chef_gem 'mysql'
+  if node['proxy_url']
+    gem_package 'mysql' do
+      options("--http-proxy #{node['proxy_url']}")
+      action :install
+    end
+  else
+    chef_gem 'mysql'
+  end
 else
   gem_package 'mysql' do
     options("--clear-sources --source #{node['local_repo']}/gem_repo/")
diff --git a/cobbler/snippets/preseed_post_apt_repo_config b/cobbler/snippets/preseed_post_apt_repo_config
index eb509b9..2a92ae8 100644
--- a/cobbler/snippets/preseed_post_apt_repo_config
+++ b/cobbler/snippets/preseed_post_apt_repo_config
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 cat << EOF > /etc/apt/apt.conf
 #if $getVar('proxy', '') != ''
-Acquire::http::Proxy "$proxy"
+Acquire::http::Proxy "$proxy";
 #end if
 EOF