diff --git a/octave/defaults/main.yml b/octave/defaults/main.yml
index 098bfb2..faba5d2 100644
--- a/octave/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/octave/defaults/main.yml
@@ -5,3 +5,6 @@ octave_pkg_state: latest
 octave_pkgs:
   - octave
   
+octave_external_deps:
+  - epstool
+  - transfig
diff --git a/octave/tasks/main.yml b/octave/tasks/main.yml
index 8af3da5..3bafe99 100644
--- a/octave/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/octave/tasks/main.yml
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@
       apt: pkg={{ item }} state={{ octave_pkg_state }} update_cache=yes cache_valid_time=3600
       with_items: '{{ octave_pkgs }}'
 
+    - name: Install the octave external dependencies packages
+      apt: pkg={{ item }} state={{ octave_pkg_state }} update_cache=yes cache_valid_time=3600
+      with_items: '{{ octave_external_deps }}'
+
   tags: octave
   when: octave_install