diff --git a/diskimage_builder/elements/ubuntu-minimal/root.d/75-ubuntu-minimal-baseinstall b/diskimage_builder/elements/ubuntu-minimal/root.d/75-ubuntu-minimal-baseinstall
index f9b90e707..871cbcc0a 100755
--- a/diskimage_builder/elements/ubuntu-minimal/root.d/75-ubuntu-minimal-baseinstall
+++ b/diskimage_builder/elements/ubuntu-minimal/root.d/75-ubuntu-minimal-baseinstall
@@ -57,6 +57,8 @@ fi
 
 # default required
 to_install+="busybox sudo " # dib-lint: safe_sudo
+# required for dpkg element to be able to add apt keys
+to_install+="gnupg2 "
 
 if [ "$DIB_PYTHON_VERSION" == "2" ]; then
     to_install+="python "