diff --git a/bindep.txt b/bindep.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..692c51a7a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bindep.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# needed for mysql
+mysql-client [platform:dpkg]
+mysql-server [platform:dpkg]
+# needed for psql
+postgresql
+postgresql-client [platform:dpkg]