diff --git a/multistrap b/multistrap
index 35f5e70..a6a1cd7 100755
--- a/multistrap
+++ b/multistrap
@@ -335,7 +335,8 @@ $config_str .= " -o Dir::Etc::Trusted=${dir}${etcdir}trusted.gpg.d/trusted.gpg";
 $config_str .= " -o Apt::Get::AllowUnauthenticated=true"
 	if (defined $noauth);
 $config_str .= " -o Apt::Get::Download-Only=true";
-$config_str .= " -o Apt::Install-Recommends=false";
+$config_str .= " -o Apt::Install-Recommends=false"
+	if (not defined $allow_recommends);
 $config_str .= " -o Dir=$dir";
 $config_str .= " -o Dir::Etc=${dir}${etcdir} -o APT::Default-Release=*"
 	if (not defined $preffile);