diff --git a/actions/diaspora b/actions/diaspora
index 4a4795bae..ee464f645 100755
--- a/actions/diaspora
+++ b/actions/diaspora
@@ -129,21 +129,20 @@ def subcommand_disable_user_registrations(_):
 def subcommand_pre_install(_):
     """Pre installation configuration for diaspora"""
     presets = [
-        b'diaspora-common diaspora-common/url string dummy_domain_name',
-        b'diaspora-common diaspora-common/dbpass note ',
-        b'diaspora-common diaspora-common/enablessl boolean false',
-        b'diaspora-common diaspora-common/useletsencrypt string false',
-        b'diaspora-common diaspora-common/services multiselect ',
-        b'diaspora-common diaspora-common/ssl boolean false',
-        b'diaspora-common diaspora-common/pgsql/authmethod-admin string ident',
-        b'diaspora-common diaspora-common/letsencrypt boolean false',
-        b'diaspora-common diaspora-common/remote/host string localhost',
-        b'diaspora-common diaspora-common/database-type string pgsql',
-        b'diaspora-common diaspora-common/dbconfig-install boolean true'
+        'diaspora-common diaspora-common/url string dummy_domain_name',
+        'diaspora-common diaspora-common/dbpass note ',
+        'diaspora-common diaspora-common/enablessl boolean false',
+        'diaspora-common diaspora-common/useletsencrypt string false',
+        'diaspora-common diaspora-common/services multiselect ',
+        'diaspora-common diaspora-common/ssl boolean false',
+        'diaspora-common diaspora-common/pgsql/authmethod-admin string ident',
+        'diaspora-common diaspora-common/letsencrypt boolean false',
+        'diaspora-common diaspora-common/remote/host string localhost',
+        'diaspora-common diaspora-common/database-type string pgsql',
+        'diaspora-common diaspora-common/dbconfig-install boolean true'
     ]
 
-    for preset in presets:
-        subprocess.check_output(['debconf-set-selections'], input=preset)
+    action_utils.debconf_set_selections(presets)
 
 
 def main():
diff --git a/actions/ejabberd b/actions/ejabberd
index 8e7fb4fbe..f753ecca6 100755
--- a/actions/ejabberd
+++ b/actions/ejabberd
@@ -100,9 +100,8 @@ def subcommand_pre_install(arguments):
         # If new domainname is blank, use hostname instead.
         domainname = socket.gethostname()
 
-    subprocess.check_output(
-        ['debconf-set-selections'],
-        input=b'ejabberd ejabberd/hostname string ' + domainname.encode())
+    action_utils.debconf_set_selections(
+        ['ejabberd ejabberd/hostname string ' + domainname])
 
 
 def subcommand_setup(arguments):
diff --git a/actions/mldonkey b/actions/mldonkey
index 942dadeb1..013085225 100755
--- a/actions/mldonkey
+++ b/actions/mldonkey
@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@ Configuration helper for mldonkey.
 """
 
 import argparse
-import subprocess
+
+from plinth import action_utils
 
 
 def parse_arguments():
@@ -37,9 +38,8 @@ def parse_arguments():
 
 def subcommand_pre_install(_):
     """Preseed debconf values before packages are installed."""
-    subprocess.check_output([
-        'debconf-set-selections'
-    ], input=b'mldonkey-server mldonkey-server/launch_at_startup boolean true')
+    action_utils.debconf_set_selections(
+        ['mldonkey-server mldonkey-server/launch_at_startup boolean true'])
 
 
 def main():
diff --git a/actions/privoxy b/actions/privoxy
index fdf58904c..20e6a0d37 100755
--- a/actions/privoxy
+++ b/actions/privoxy
@@ -15,13 +15,13 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #
-
 """
 Configuration helper for Privoxy server.
 """
 
 import argparse
-import subprocess
+
+from plinth import action_utils
 
 
 def parse_arguments():
@@ -39,10 +39,8 @@ def parse_arguments():
 
 def subcommand_pre_install(_):
     """Preseed debconf values before packages are installed."""
-    subprocess.run(
-        ['debconf-set-selections'],
-        input=b'privoxy privoxy/listen-address string [::]:8118',
-        check=True)
+    action_utils.debconf_set_selections(
+        ['privoxy privoxy/listen-address string [::]:8118'])
 
 
 def main():
diff --git a/actions/roundcube b/actions/roundcube
index bb14d41ad..3396b6868 100755
--- a/actions/roundcube
+++ b/actions/roundcube
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ Configuration helper for Roundcube server.
 
 import argparse
 import re
-import subprocess
 
 from plinth import action_utils
 
@@ -44,12 +43,10 @@ def parse_arguments():
 
 def subcommand_pre_install(_):
     """Preseed debconf values before packages are installed."""
-    subprocess.check_output(
-        ['debconf-set-selections'],
-        input=b'roundcube-core roundcube/dbconfig-install boolean true')
-    subprocess.check_output(
-        ['debconf-set-selections'],
-        input=b'roundcube-core roundcube/database-type string sqlite3')
+    action_utils.debconf_set_selections([
+        'roundcube-core roundcube/dbconfig-install boolean true',
+        'roundcube-core roundcube/database-type string sqlite3'
+    ])
 
 
 def subcommand_setup(_):
diff --git a/actions/ttrss b/actions/ttrss
index 012f662e6..ec4bb7a05 100755
--- a/actions/ttrss
+++ b/actions/ttrss
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ def parse_arguments():
 
 def subcommand_pre_setup(_):
     """Preseed debconf values before packages are installed."""
-    subprocess.check_output(['debconf-set-selections'],
-                            input=b'tt-rss tt-rss/database-type string pgsql')
+    action_utils.debconf_set_selections(
+        ['tt-rss tt-rss/database-type string pgsql'])
 
 
 def subcommand_setup(_):
diff --git a/plinth/action_utils.py b/plinth/action_utils.py
index 93012f334..8b973dc1b 100644
--- a/plinth/action_utils.py
+++ b/plinth/action_utils.py
@@ -529,6 +529,12 @@ Owners: {package}
         pass
 
 
+def debconf_set_selections(presets):
+    """Answer debconf questions before installing a package."""
+    presets = '\n'.join(presets)
+    subprocess.check_output(['debconf-set-selections'], input=presets.encode())
+
+
 def is_disk_image():
     """Return whether the current machine is from a disk image.