diff --git a/sau/gentoo.py b/sau/gentoo.py
index 91b546b..c2f7041 100644
--- a/sau/gentoo.py
+++ b/sau/gentoo.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import subprocess
 import sau
 import sau.helpers
 
-EIX_SYNC_PATH='/usr/bin/eix-sync'
+EIX_UPDATE_PATH='/usr/bin/eix-update'
 RC_SERVICE_PATH='/sbin/rc-service'
 EMERGE_PATH='/usr/bin/emerge'
 EQUERY_PATH='/usr/bin/equery'
@@ -118,6 +118,27 @@ def _sync_portage():
         for line in err.splitlines():
             log.warning("stderr: {}".format(line))
 
+    if os.path.exists(EIX_UPDATE_PATH):
+        cmd = [ EIX_UPDATE_PATH, '-q' ]
+        log.debug('Executing "{}"'.format(' '.join(cmd)))
+
+        proc = subprocess.Popen(
+                cmd,
+                stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
+                stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
+
+        out, err = proc.communicate()
+        out = out.decode('utf-8')
+        err = err.decode('utf-8')
+
+        if proc.returncode != 0:
+            log.warning("eix-update failed:")
+            for line in out.splitlines():
+                log.warning("stdout: {}".format(line))
+            for line in err.splitlines():
+                log.warning("stderr: {}".format(line))
+
+
 def _parse_version(version):
     slot_re = re.compile('^(\(~\))?([^\(]+)(\([^\)]+\))$')
     match = re.match(slot_re, version)
@@ -127,59 +148,6 @@ def _parse_version(version):
         'slot': match.group(2)
     }
 
-def _get_upgradable_packages_eix():
-    log = logging.getLogger(sau.LOGNAME)
-    conf = sau.config
-
-    filter_re = re.compile('^(No |$|--$|The names of all|Found \d+)')
-
-    proc = subprocess.Popen(
-            [EIX, '-Ttnc'],
-            stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
-            stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
-
-    out, err = proc.communicate()
-
-    out = out.decode('utf-8')
-    err = err.decode('utf-8')
-
-    default_version_diff = conf.getint('default', 'min_version_diff', fallback=2)
-    upgradable = set()
-    for line in out.splitlines():
-        if re.match(filter_re, line):
-            continue
-
-        match = re.match(package_re, line)
-        if not match:
-            continue
-
-        if match.group(1) != 'U':
-            log.warning('Bad status for package {}, manual upgrade required'.format(match.group(2)))
-            continue
-
-        min_diff = conf.getint('packages', match.group(2), fallback=default_version_diff)
-        installed, latest = match.group(3).split(' -> ')
-        installed = installed.split()
-        latest = latest.split()
-        installed = [_parse_version(x) for x in installed]
-        latest = [_parse_version(x) for x in latest]
-        for pkg in installed:
-            latest_in_slot = [x for x in latest if x['slot'] == pkg['slot']]
-            if not latest_in_slot:
-                log.warning('Could not find latest version of {} in slot {}'.format(match.group(2), pkg['slot']))
-                continue
-            latest_in_slot = latest_in_slot[0]
-            if pkg['version'] == latest_in_slot['version']:
-                continue
-            diff = sau.helpers.version_diff(latest_in_slot['version'], pkg['version'])
-            if min_diff >= diff:
-                log.debug('configured level {} >= pkg level {}'.format(min_diff, diff))
-                upgrade_pkg.add('{}:{}'.format(match.group(2), pkg['slot']))
-            else:
-                log.debug('configured level {} < pkg level {}'.format(min_diff, diff))
-
-    return upgradable
-
 def pkg_upgrade():
     log = logging.getLogger(sau.LOGNAME)
     conf = sau.config