diff --git a/tests/hghave.py b/tests/hghave.py
--- a/tests/hghave.py
+++ b/tests/hghave.py
@@ -587,6 +587,13 @@
                           br'to run debian/rules with given parameter')
     return dpkg and dh and dh_py2 and debuild
 
+@check("debdeps",
+       "debian build dependencies (run dpkg-checkbuilddeps in contrib/)")
+def has_debdeps():
+    # just check exit status (ignoring output)
+    path = '%s/../contrib/debian/control' % os.environ['TESTDIR']
+    return matchoutput('dpkg-checkbuilddeps %s' % path, br'')
+
 @check("demandimport", "demandimport enabled")
 def has_demandimport():
     return os.environ.get('HGDEMANDIMPORT') != 'disable'
diff --git a/tests/test-debian-packages.t b/tests/test-debian-packages.t
--- a/tests/test-debian-packages.t
+++ b/tests/test-debian-packages.t
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#require test-repo slow debhelper
+#require test-repo slow debhelper debdeps
 
   $ . "$TESTDIR/helpers-testrepo.sh"
   $ testrepohgenv