diff --git a/inst/service/backend/apt.py b/inst/service/backend/apt.py
index adc70a7..1391621 100644
--- a/inst/service/backend/apt.py
+++ b/inst/service/backend/apt.py
@@ -67,7 +67,10 @@ def wrapper(pkgname):
 
     return notavail
 
-def install(prefixes, pkgs, exclusions):
+def install(prefixes, pkgs, exclusions, weak_deps=None):
+    if weak_deps is not None:
+        apt.apt_pkg.init()
+        apt.apt_pkg.config["APT::Install-Recommends"] = str(weak_deps)
     return operation("install", prefixes, pkgs, exclusions)
 
 def remove(prefixes, pkgs, exclusions):