diff --git a/man/freedombone-template.1.gz b/man/freedombone-template.1.gz
index 7fb4025c..511a41b7 100644
Binary files a/man/freedombone-template.1.gz and b/man/freedombone-template.1.gz differ
diff --git a/src/freedombone-template b/src/freedombone-template
index 1f023834..d3673196 100755
--- a/src/freedombone-template
+++ b/src/freedombone-template
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ your_name=''
 your_email=''
 SHOW_ON_ABOUT=1
 database_type=''
+debian_packages=
 
 function show_help {
     echo ''
@@ -67,6 +68,7 @@ function show_help {
     echo $'     --nodeapp [package]                      Specify a nodejs package to install'
     echo $'  -o --onion [yes|no]                         Is this app only available on an onion address?'
     echo $'  -p --php [yes|no]                           Is this a PHP app?'
+    echo $'     --packages [list of deb package names]   Debian packages to be installed'
     echo $'  -s --daemon [yes|no]                        Add a daemon'
     echo $'  -d --database [mariadb|postgresql|mongodb]  Type of database'
     echo $'  -w --web [yes|no]                           Whether there is a web user interface (default is yes)'
@@ -152,6 +154,10 @@ do
             shift
             app_dir="$1"
             ;;
+        --packages|--package)
+            shift
+            debian_packages="$1"
+            ;;
         *)
             # unknown option
             ;;
@@ -713,6 +719,10 @@ fi
 echo '}'
 echo ''
 echo "function install_${app_name} {"
+if [ "$debian_packages" ]; then
+    echo "    apt-get -qy install ${debian_packages}"
+    echo ''
+fi
 if [[ "$database_type" == "mariadb" || "$database_type" == "mysql" ]]; then
     echo '    install_mariadb'
     echo ''