package initramfs-tools 0.99ubuntu9 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1

I ran sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade in a terminal window. During the upgrade process, I got the following error message on my terminal window:

update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-7-generic

gzip: stdout: Invalid argument
E: mkinitramfs failure cpio 141 gzip 1
update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-7-generic with 1.
dpkg: error processing initramfs-tools (--configure):
 subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
 initramfs-tools
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

Running sudo dpkg --configure -a after this brings up the following

patrickdickey@dcky-ubuntu-test:~$ sudo dpkg --configure -a
Setting up initramfs-tools (0.99ubuntu9) ...
update-initramfs: deferring update (trigger activated)
Processing triggers for initramfs-tools ...
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-7-generic

So apparently this was the last thing to be done in the upgrade, and now it completed successfully.

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: initramfs-tools 0.99ubuntu9
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-2.5-generic 3.2.0-rc3
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-2-generic i686
ApportVersion: 1.90-0ubuntu1
Architecture: i386
Date: Sat Dec 31 21:44:59 2011
ErrorMessage: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Alpha i386 (20111130.1)
SourcePackage: initramfs-tools
Title: package initramfs-tools 0.99ubuntu9 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)