diff --git a/tasks/main.yml b/tasks/main.yml
index f1a60d3..9353840 100644
--- a/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/tasks/main.yml
@@ -41,6 +41,10 @@
       - yml
     name: srcconfig
 
+- name: Append system_packages to pkg_sys
+  ansible.builtin.set_fact:
+    pkg_sys: "{{ pkg_sys + system_packages }}"
+
 - name: Generate package installation lists
   loop: "{{ packages | unique }}"
   loop_control:
diff --git a/vars/main.yml b/vars/main.yml
index f4ded7b..eb4d901 100644
--- a/vars/main.yml
+++ b/vars/main.yml
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ debug: false
 use_local: false
 prefer_method: src
 packages: [] # list of packages to install
+system_packages: [] # list of extra packages to add to pkg_sys
 
 defaults:
   path: