diff --git a/gstlal-inspiral/debian/control.in b/gstlal-inspiral/debian/control.in
index eb4c953c8f5920a06422d8d2d95a05c3ae477f97..14a9ebda65ad78d2e088a941d6d43031a891a253 100644
--- a/gstlal-inspiral/debian/control.in
+++ b/gstlal-inspiral/debian/control.in
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ Standards-Version: 3.9.2
 X-Python-Version: >= @MIN_PYTHON_VERSION@
 Build-Depends:
  debhelper (>= 9),
+ dh-python,
  doxygen (>= @MIN_DOXYGEN_VERSION@),
  fakeroot,
  gobject-introspection (>= @MIN_GOBJECT_INTROSPECTION_VERSION@),
diff --git a/gstlal-ugly/debian/control.in b/gstlal-ugly/debian/control.in
index 9244b51ed562cf3e45e2d4250e8359d9954cfbc4..55659145d23c5d6fed76aa10a8366e8340cc2c24 100644
--- a/gstlal-ugly/debian/control.in
+++ b/gstlal-ugly/debian/control.in
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ Standards-Version: 3.9.2
 X-Python-Version: >= @MIN_PYTHON_VERSION@
 Build-Depends:
  debhelper (>= 9),
+ dh-python,
  doxygen (>= @MIN_DOXYGEN_VERSION@),
  fakeroot,
  gds-dev (>= @MIN_GDS_VERSION@),
diff --git a/gstlal/debian/control.in b/gstlal/debian/control.in
index 082e293894dcaa970cd748365d3e2db1d1e63a92..4bc62dd3c44ad9e7b250885713f459b6dd7a0004 100644
--- a/gstlal/debian/control.in
+++ b/gstlal/debian/control.in
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ Standards-Version: 3.9.2
 X-Python-Version: >= @MIN_PYTHON_VERSION@
 Build-Depends:
  debhelper (>= 9),
+ dh-python,
  doxygen (>= @MIN_DOXYGEN_VERSION@),
  fakeroot,
  gobject-introspection (>= @MIN_GOBJECT_INTROSPECTION_VERSION@),