diff --git a/cmd/mkpkg/main.go b/cmd/mkpkg/main.go
index c550f46c2..dc3c436da 100644
--- a/cmd/mkpkg/main.go
+++ b/cmd/mkpkg/main.go
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ func main() {
 	prerm := getopt.StringLong("prerm", 0, "", "debian prerm script path")
 	postrm := getopt.StringLong("postrm", 0, "", "debian postrm script path")
 	replaces := getopt.StringLong("replaces", 0, "", "package which this package replaces, if any")
+	depends := getopt.StringLong("depends", 0, "comma-separated list of packages this package depends on")
 	getopt.Parse()
 
 	filesMap, err := parseFiles(*files)
@@ -72,6 +73,9 @@ func main() {
 		},
 	})
 
+	if len(*depends) != 0 {
+		info.Overridables.Depends = strings.Split(*depends, ",")
+	}
 	if *replaces != "" {
 		info.Overridables.Replaces = []string{*replaces}
 		info.Overridables.Conflicts = []string{*replaces}