diff --git a/repo2docker/detectors.py b/repo2docker/detectors.py
index daf8e2ae..38b29768 100644
--- a/repo2docker/detectors.py
+++ b/repo2docker/detectors.py
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ RUN apt-get update && \
     apt-get clean && \
     rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
 
+{% if packages -%}
 RUN apt-get update && \
     apt-get install --yes \
        {% for package in packages -%}
@@ -62,6 +63,7 @@ RUN apt-get update && \
     && apt-get purge && \
     apt-get clean && \
     rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
+{% endif -%}
 
 EXPOSE 8888