diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index ab84cdd6..99f90ef5 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ fail2ban (0.8.1-3) unstable; urgency=low
   * BF: removed sftp from ssh jails (closes: #436053)
   * NF: new filter for 'refused connect' (closes: #451093). Thanks Guido
     Bozzetto
+  * Moved iptables into recommends since fail2ban can work without iptables
+    using some other action (e.g hosts.deny)
 
  -- Yaroslav Halchenko <debian@onerussian.com>  Fri, 23 Nov 2007 11:42:24 -0500
 
diff --git a/debian/control b/debian/control
index 069d01d2..45957b40 100644
--- a/debian/control
+++ b/debian/control
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@ Standards-Version: 3.7.2
 
 Package: fail2ban
 Architecture: all
-Depends: ${python:Depends}, iptables, lsb-base (>=2.0-7)
+Depends: ${python:Depends}, lsb-base (>=2.0-7)
+Recommends: iptables
 Suggests: python-gamin, mailx
 XB-Python-Version: ${python:Versions}
 Description: bans IPs that cause multiple authentication errors