diff --git a/repo2docker/buildpacks/r.py b/repo2docker/buildpacks/r.py
index 867a63da..3f0ff5e2 100644
--- a/repo2docker/buildpacks/r.py
+++ b/repo2docker/buildpacks/r.py
@@ -250,6 +250,7 @@ class RBuildPack(PythonBuildPack):
                     apt-get update && \
                     apt-get install --yes r-base={R_version} \
                          r-base-dev={R_version} \
+                         r-recommended={R_version} \
                          libclang-dev && \
                     apt-get -qq purge && \
                     apt-get -qq clean && \