diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index 9595486b..ba0a9bc7 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -20,6 +20,14 @@ lxc_hosts_validate_certs: yes
 # Options are 'present' and 'latest'
 lxc_hosts_package_state: "latest"
 
+# Define a list of extra distribuition packages to install onto the host
+# at the discretion of the deployer
+lxc_hosts_extra_distro_packages: []
+
+# Define the total list of packages which to install onto the host combining
+# distibution specific and deployers extra package lists
+lxc_hosts_distro_packages: "{{ _lxc_hosts_distro_packages + lxc_hosts_extra_distro_packages }}"
+
 # Mappings from Ansible reported architecture to distro release architecture
 lxc_architecture_mapping:
   x86_64: amd64
@@ -169,8 +177,13 @@ lxc_user_defined_container: null
 # which will be templated onto the deployment targets.
 lxc_cache_prep_template: "{{ _lxc_cache_prep_template }}"
 
+## Define a list of extra distribuition packages to install in the container
+# cache at the discretion of the deployer
+lxc_cache_extra_distro_packages: []
+
 # List of packages to be installed into the base container cache
-lxc_cache_distro_packages: "{{ _lxc_cache_distro_packages }}"
+# Combines the distribution specific list with deployers extra list
+lxc_cache_distro_packages: "{{ _lxc_cache_distro_packages + lxc_cache_extra_distro_packages }}"
 
 # The maximum amount of time (in seconds) to wait until failing the cache
 # preparation process. This is necessary to mitigate the issue that can
diff --git a/tests/test.yml b/tests/test.yml
index 3b3872e3..6c01ffcc 100644
--- a/tests/test.yml
+++ b/tests/test.yml
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@
   hosts: localhost
   connection: local
   become: true
+  vars:
+    extra_host_package: iotop
+    extra_cache_package: lshw
   pre_tasks:
     - name: Show host facts
       debug:
@@ -44,6 +47,11 @@
       set_fact:
         lxc_container_ssh_key: "{{ _root_ssh_key['content'] | b64decode }}"
 
+    - name: Ensure extra host package is not installed
+      package:
+        name: "{{ extra_host_package }}"
+        state: absent
+
     - include_tasks: "common/common-tasks/test-set-nodepool-vars.yml"
 
   roles:
@@ -55,6 +63,10 @@
       lxc_container_cache_files:
         - src: files/container-file-copy-test.txt
           dest: /tmp/file-copied-from-deployment-host.txt
+      lxc_hosts_extra_distro_packages:
+        - "{{ extra_host_package }}"
+      lxc_cache_extra_distro_packages:
+        - "{{ extra_cache_package }}"
 
   post_tasks:
     - name: Get sysctl content
@@ -90,6 +102,19 @@
         filter: ansible_lxcbr0
       register: lxcbr0_facts
 
+    - name: Get installation state of extra host package
+      package:
+        name: "{{ extra_host_package }}"
+        state: present
+      register: extra_host_package_state
+
+    - name: Check for extra package installed in lxc cache
+      find:
+        paths: "{{ lxc_image_cache_path }}"
+        patterns: "{{ extra_cache_package }}"
+        recurse: yes
+      register: extra_cache_package_find
+
     - name: Check role functions
       assert:
         that:
@@ -99,3 +124,5 @@
           - sysctl_conf | search('fs.inotify.max_user_instances.*')
           - "lxc_bridge_file.stat.exists"
           - "lxcbr0_facts.ansible_facts.ansible_lxcbr0.ipv4.address | match('10.100.100.1')"
+          - extra_host_package_state.changed == false
+          - extra_cache_package_find.matched > 0
diff --git a/vars/redhat-7-host.yml b/vars/redhat-7-host.yml
index 20f67cb8..c9d073a6 100644
--- a/vars/redhat-7-host.yml
+++ b/vars/redhat-7-host.yml
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ system_config_dir: "/etc/sysconfig"
 systemd_utils_prefix: "/lib/systemd"
 
 # Required rpm packages.
-lxc_hosts_distro_packages:
+_lxc_hosts_distro_packages:
   - aria2
   - bridge-utils
   - btrfs-progs
diff --git a/vars/suse-42-host.yml b/vars/suse-42-host.yml
index 39d5049e..7282ac59 100644
--- a/vars/suse-42-host.yml
+++ b/vars/suse-42-host.yml
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ system_config_dir: "/etc/sysconfig"
 systemd_utils_prefix: "/usr/lib/systemd"
 
 # Required rpm packages.
-lxc_hosts_distro_packages:
+_lxc_hosts_distro_packages:
   - apparmor-parser
   - apparmor-profiles
   - apparmor-utils
diff --git a/vars/suse-host.yml b/vars/suse-host.yml
index 2d10939e..411e4024 100644
--- a/vars/suse-host.yml
+++ b/vars/suse-host.yml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ system_config_dir: "/etc/sysconfig"
 systemd_utils_prefix: "/usr/lib/systemd"
 
 # Required rpm packages.
-lxc_hosts_distro_packages:
+_lxc_hosts_distro_packages:
   - apparmor-parser
   - apparmor-profiles
   - apparmor-utils
diff --git a/vars/ubuntu-16.04-host.yml b/vars/ubuntu-16.04-host.yml
index ed38ab40..6a2dfe31 100644
--- a/vars/ubuntu-16.04-host.yml
+++ b/vars/ubuntu-16.04-host.yml
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 cache_timeout: 600
 
 # Required apt packages.
-lxc_hosts_distro_packages:
+_lxc_hosts_distro_packages:
   - apparmor
   - apparmor-profiles
   - apparmor-utils
diff --git a/vars/ubuntu-18.04-host.yml b/vars/ubuntu-18.04-host.yml
index 64e030f3..6cb8dda4 100644
--- a/vars/ubuntu-18.04-host.yml
+++ b/vars/ubuntu-18.04-host.yml
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 cache_timeout: 600
 
 # Required apt packages.
-lxc_hosts_distro_packages:
+_lxc_hosts_distro_packages:
   - apparmor
   - apparmor-profiles
   - apparmor-utils