diff --git a/elements/debian-minimal/README.rst b/elements/debian-minimal/README.rst
index ead2d232..0625720a 100644
--- a/elements/debian-minimal/README.rst
+++ b/elements/debian-minimal/README.rst
@@ -11,6 +11,12 @@ not handle changing Packages files well across multiple out of sync
 mirrors, it is recommended that you choose a single mirror of debian,
 and pass it in via `DIB_DISTRIBUTION_MIRROR`.
 
+By default only `main` component is used. If `DIB_DEBIAN_COMPONENTS` (comma
+separated) from the `debootstrap` element has been set, that list of
+components will be used instead.
+
+Backports are included unless `DIB_RELEASE` is `unstable`.
+
 If necessary, a custom apt keyring and debootstrap script can be
 supplied to the `debootstrap` command via `DIB_APT_KEYRING` and
 `DIB_DEBIAN_DEBOOTSTRAP_SCRIPT` respectively. Both options require the
diff --git a/elements/debian-minimal/pre-install.d/01-debian-apt-update b/elements/debian-minimal/pre-install.d/01-debian-apt-update
index 52fcb547..c9ff345e 100755
--- a/elements/debian-minimal/pre-install.d/01-debian-apt-update
+++ b/elements/debian-minimal/pre-install.d/01-debian-apt-update
@@ -21,14 +21,17 @@ fi
 set -eu
 set -o pipefail
 
+DIB_DEBIAN_COMPONENTS=${DIB_DEBIAN_COMPONENTS:-main}
+components=${DIB_DEBIAN_COMPONENTS//,/ }
+
 # We should manage this in a betterer way
 cat << EOF >/etc/apt/sources.list
-deb $DIB_DISTRIBUTION_MIRROR $DIB_RELEASE main
+deb $DIB_DISTRIBUTION_MIRROR $DIB_RELEASE $components
 EOF
 
 if [ $DIB_RELEASE != unstable ] ; then
     cat << EOF >>/etc/apt/sources.list
-deb $DIB_DISTRIBUTION_MIRROR $DIB_RELEASE-backports main
+deb $DIB_DISTRIBUTION_MIRROR $DIB_RELEASE-backports $components
 EOF
 fi