diff --git a/docs/source/config_files.rst b/docs/source/config_files.rst
index b13a3932..64047eba 100644
--- a/docs/source/config_files.rst
+++ b/docs/source/config_files.rst
@@ -109,6 +109,17 @@ While one can specify dependencies in ``setup.py``,
 repo2docker **requires configuration files such as** ``environment.yml`` or
 ``requirements.txt`` to install dependencies during the build process.
 
+``DESCRIPTION``
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+To install your repository like an R package, you may include a
+``DESCRIPTION`` file. repo2docker installs the package and dependencies
+ from the ``DESCRIPTION`` by running ``devtools:install_git(".")``.
+
+ You also need to have a ``runtime.txt`` file that is formatted as
+ ``r-<YYYY>-<MM>-<DD>``, where YYYY-MM-DD is a snapshot at MRAN that will be
+ used for your R installation.
+
 .. _postBuild:
 
 ``postBuild``
diff --git a/repo2docker/buildpacks/r.py b/repo2docker/buildpacks/r.py
index 26c5737e..8010874f 100644
--- a/repo2docker/buildpacks/r.py
+++ b/repo2docker/buildpacks/r.py
@@ -263,8 +263,7 @@ class RBuildPack(PythonBuildPack):
                 (
                     "${NB_USER}",
                     r"""
-                    R CMD build . && \
-                    R CMD install .
+                    R --quiet -e "devtools::install_git('.')"
                     """
                 )
             ]
diff --git a/tests/external/reproductions.repos.yaml b/tests/external/reproductions.repos.yaml
index b434d229..311cd39f 100644
--- a/tests/external/reproductions.repos.yaml
+++ b/tests/external/reproductions.repos.yaml
@@ -30,3 +30,7 @@
   url: https://github.com/QuantStack/xeus-cling
   ref: 0.4.5
   verify: jupyter kernelspec list
+- name: Test compiling R package
+  url: https://github.com/gedankenstuecke/binder-r-description
+  ref: master
+  verify: R --quiet -e 'binderdescription::print_something()'