diff --git a/plinth/package.py b/plinth/package.py
index f2e1a1946..7257c5ca7 100644
--- a/plinth/package.py
+++ b/plinth/package.py
@@ -27,18 +27,23 @@ class Packages(app.FollowerComponent):
     of packages required by an app.
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, component_id: str, packages: list[str]):
+    def __init__(self, component_id: str, packages: list[str],
+                 skip_recommends=False):
         """Initialize a new packages component.
 
         'component_id' should be a unique ID across all components of an app
         and across all components.
 
         'packages' is the list of Debian packages managed by this component.
+
+        'skip_recommends' is a boolean specifying whether recommended packages
+        should be installed along with the listed packages.
         """
         super().__init__(component_id)
 
         self.component_id = component_id
         self._packages = packages
+        self.skip_recommends = skip_recommends
 
     @property
     def packages(self) -> list[str]:
diff --git a/plinth/tests/test_package.py b/plinth/tests/test_package.py
index 3339172ca..8ae037f77 100644
--- a/plinth/tests/test_package.py
+++ b/plinth/tests/test_package.py
@@ -5,8 +5,25 @@ Test module for package module.
 
 from unittest.mock import call, patch
 
+import pytest
+
 from plinth.errors import ActionError
-from plinth.package import packages_installed, remove
+from plinth.package import Packages, packages_installed, remove
+
+
+def test_packages_init():
+    """Test initialization of packages component."""
+    component = Packages('test-component', ['foo', 'bar'])
+    assert component.component_id == 'test-component'
+    assert component.packages == ['foo', 'bar']
+    assert not component.skip_recommends
+
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        Packages(None, [])
+
+    component = Packages('test-component', [], skip_recommends=True)
+    assert component.packages == []
+    assert component.skip_recommends
 
 
 def test_packages_installed():