diff --git a/actions/packages b/actions/packages
index 3e9282762..9167fdd1f 100755
--- a/actions/packages
+++ b/actions/packages
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@ def parse_arguments():
     subparsers.add_parser('update', help='update the package lists')
 
     subparser = subparsers.add_parser('install', help='install packages')
+    subparser.add_argument(
+        '--skip-recommends', action='store_true',
+        help='whether to skip installing recommended packages')
     subparser.add_argument(
         'module', help='name of module for which package is being installed')
     subparser.add_argument('packages', nargs='+',
@@ -82,7 +85,11 @@ def subcommand_install(arguments):
         print('Access check failed:', exception, file=sys.stderr)
         sys.exit(99)
 
-    _run_apt_command(['install'] + arguments.packages)
+    if arguments.skip_recommends:
+        _run_apt_command(
+            ['install', '--no-install-recommends'] + arguments.packages)
+    else:
+        _run_apt_command(['install'] + arguments.packages)
 
 
 def _assert_managed_packages(module, packages):
diff --git a/plinth/package.py b/plinth/package.py
index de41429eb..897dcd812 100644
--- a/plinth/package.py
+++ b/plinth/package.py
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ class Transaction(object):
         self.percentage = 0
         self.stderr = None
 
-    def install(self):
+    def install(self, skip_recommends=False):
         """Run an apt-get transaction to install given packages.
 
         FreedomBox Service (Plinth) needs to be running as root when calling
@@ -79,7 +79,12 @@ class Transaction(object):
         """
         try:
             self._run_apt_command(['update'])
-            self._run_apt_command(['install', self.module_name] +
+            if skip_recommends:
+                self._run_apt_command(
+                    ['install', '--skip-recommends', self.module_name] +
+                    self.package_names)
+            else:
+                self._run_apt_command(['install', self.module_name] +
                                   self.package_names)
         except subprocess.CalledProcessError as exception:
             logger.exception('Error installing package: %s', exception)
diff --git a/plinth/setup.py b/plinth/setup.py
index 5e9156f16..69002066c 100644
--- a/plinth/setup.py
+++ b/plinth/setup.py
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ class Helper(object):
             self.is_finished = True
             self.current_operation = None
 
-    def install(self, package_names):
+    def install(self, package_names, skip_recommends=False):
         """Install a set of packages marking progress."""
         if self.allow_install is False:
             # Raise error if packages are not already installed.
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ class Helper(object):
             'step': 'install',
             'transaction': transaction,
         }
-        transaction.install()
+        transaction.install(skip_recommends)
 
     def call(self, step, method, *args, **kwargs):
         """Call an arbitrary method during setup and note down its stage."""