diff --git a/.rubocop.yml b/.rubocop.yml
index 8ab3bdc..14e1588 100644
--- a/.rubocop.yml
+++ b/.rubocop.yml
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ Metrics/ModuleLength:
 Metrics/BlockLength:
   Enabled: false
 Metrics/MethodLength:
-  Max: 20
+  Max: 22
   CountAsOne:
     - 'heredoc'
 Metrics/ClassLength:
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ Metrics/AbcSize:
 
 # rspec
 RSpec/MultipleMemoizedHelpers:
-  Max: 11
+  Max: 12
 RSpec/MultipleExpectations:
   Enabled: false
 RSpec/ExampleLength:
diff --git a/lib/ood_packaging/build.rb b/lib/ood_packaging/build.rb
index e5a5981..fb7a3bc 100644
--- a/lib/ood_packaging/build.rb
+++ b/lib/ood_packaging/build.rb
@@ -273,9 +273,15 @@ def install_rpm_dependencies!
     sh "#{cmd.join(' ')}#{cmd_suffix}"
   end
 
+  # rubocop:disable Metrics/MethodLength
   def install_deb_dependencies!
     sh "sudo apt update -y#{cmd_suffix}"
     extra_depends = config.fetch(:extra_depends, nil)
+    unless extra_depends.nil?
+      extra_depends = extra_depends.split(',').map(&:strip) if extra_depends.is_a?(String)
+      extra_depends.unshift('')
+      extra_depends = extra_depends.join(', ')
+    end
     tool = [
       'DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive apt-cudf-get --solver aspcud',
       '-o APT::Get::Assume-Yes=1 -o APT::Get::Allow-Downgrades=1',
@@ -295,6 +301,7 @@ def install_deb_dependencies!
       sh "rm -f #{cleanup.join(' ')}#{cmd_suffix}"
     end
   end
+  # rubocop:enable Metrics/MethodLength
 
   def rpmbuild!
     puts "== RPM build spec=#{spec_file} ==".blue
diff --git a/spec/ood_packaging/build_spec.rb b/spec/ood_packaging/build_spec.rb
index 6779266..c19949f 100644
--- a/spec/ood_packaging/build_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/ood_packaging/build_spec.rb
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
   let(:arch) { 'x86_64' }
   let(:version) { 'v0.0.1-2' }
   let(:build) { described_class.new }
+  let(:cmd_suffix) { ' 2>/dev/null 1>/dev/null' }
 
   before do
     ENV['DIST'] = dist
@@ -176,13 +177,28 @@
       context 'when extra_depends is defined' do
         let(:dist) { 'debian-12' }
 
-        before do
-          allow(build).to receive(:packaging_config).and_return({ 'debian-12' => { 'extra_depends' => 'npm' } })
+        it 'updates debian/control' do
+          allow(build).to receive(:packaging_config).and_return(
+            {
+              'debian-12' => { 'extra_depends' => 'npm' }
+            }
+          )
+          expect(build).to receive(:sh).with('sudo apt update -y 2>/dev/null 1>/dev/null')
+          expect(build).to receive(:sh).with("sed -i 's|@EXTRA_DEPENDS@|, npm|g' debian/control#{cmd_suffix}")
+          expect(build).to receive(:sh).with(expected_cmd.join(' '))
+          expect(build).to receive(:sh).with("rm -f #{cleanup.join(' ')} 2>/dev/null 1>/dev/null")
+          build.install_dependencies!
         end
 
-        it 'updates debian/control' do
+        it 'updates debian/control from array of extra_depends' do
+          allow(build).to receive(:packaging_config).and_return(
+            {
+              'debian-12' => { 'extra_depends' => ['npm', 'foo'] }
+            }
+          )
+          depends = ', npm, foo'
           expect(build).to receive(:sh).with('sudo apt update -y 2>/dev/null 1>/dev/null')
-          expect(build).to receive(:sh).with("sed -i 's|@EXTRA_DEPENDS@|npm|g' debian/control 2>/dev/null 1>/dev/null")
+          expect(build).to receive(:sh).with("sed -i 's|@EXTRA_DEPENDS@|#{depends}|g' debian/control#{cmd_suffix}")
           expect(build).to receive(:sh).with(expected_cmd.join(' '))
           expect(build).to receive(:sh).with("rm -f #{cleanup.join(' ')} 2>/dev/null 1>/dev/null")
           build.install_dependencies!