diff --git a/distrib/debian/control.template b/distrib/debian/control.template
index c3ff40df8d..ecfd9c8d6c 100644
--- a/distrib/debian/control.template
+++ b/distrib/debian/control.template
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ Source: doomsday
 Section: universe/games
 Priority: optional
 Maintainer: Jaakko Keränen <jaakko.keranen@iki.fi>
-Build-Depends: debhelper (>= 8.0.0), python, libsdl1.2-dev, libsdl-mixer1.2-dev, libxrandr-dev, libxxf86vm-dev, libqt4-network (>= 4.7), libqtcore4 (>= 4.7), libqtgui4 (>= 4.7), qt4-qmake (>= 4.7), libqt4-opengl-dev (>= 4.7), zlib1g-dev, libfluidsynth-dev, libncurses5-dev
+Build-Depends: debhelper (>= 8.0.0), python, libsdl1.2-dev, libsdl-mixer1.2-dev, libxrandr-dev, libxxf86vm-dev, libqt4-network (>= 4.7), libqtcore4 (>= 4.7), libqtgui4 (>= 4.7), qt4-qmake (>= 4.7), libqt4-opengl-dev (>= 4.7), zlib1g-dev, libfluidsynth-dev, libncurses5-dev, cmake (>= 2.8)
 Standards-Version: 3.9.3
 Homepage: http://dengine.net/
 Vcs-Git: https://github.com/skyjake/Doomsday-Engine.git
diff --git a/distrib/debian/rules b/distrib/debian/rules
index 23efac6a55..9c8dc89088 100755
--- a/distrib/debian/rules
+++ b/distrib/debian/rules
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@ builddir:
 	mkdir -p builddir
 
 builddir/Makefile: builddir
-	cd builddir && qmake-qt4 PREFIX=/usr CONFIG+=deng_fluidsynth CONFIG+=release DENG_BUILD=`../build_number.py --print` ../../doomsday/$(APPNAME).pro
+	cd doomsday/external/assimp && cmake -G "Unix Makefiles" && make
+	cd builddir && qmake-qt4 PREFIX=/usr CONFIG+=deng_fluidsynth CONFIG+=deng_extassimp CONFIG+=release DENG_BUILD=`../build_number.py --print` ../../doomsday/$(APPNAME).pro
 
 build: build-arch build-indep
 build-arch: build-stamp