diff --git a/R/defaults/main.yml b/R/defaults/main.yml
index 03804209..e43badd5 100644
--- a/R/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/R/defaults/main.yml
@@ -15,12 +15,24 @@ r_cran_mirror_site: http://cran.mirror.garr.it/mirrors/CRAN/
 r_base_specific_version: False
 r_base_pkg_version: 2.14.1
 r_packages_state: present
+r_needs_additional_distro_pkgs: False
 r_plugins_from_deb: True
 r_plugins_install_latest_source: True
 r_plugins_install_specific_source: True
 
 r_source_plugins_dest_dir: /var/cache/R
 
+# r_distribution_required_packages:
+#   - gdal-bin
+#   - dans-gdal-scripts
+#   - libgdal1-dev
+#   - libgeos-dev
+#   - libspatialite-dev
+#   - proj
+#   - proj-bin
+#   - proj-data
+#   - libproj-dev
+
 r_base_packages_list:
   - r-base
 
diff --git a/R/tasks/main.yml b/R/tasks/main.yml
index 12333322..44820d51 100644
--- a/R/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/R/tasks/main.yml
@@ -18,6 +18,12 @@
   when: r_plugins_from_deb
   tags: [ 'r_software', 'r_pkg' ]
 
+- name: Install some packages needed by R plugins when installed from source, if needed
+  apt: pkg={{ item }} state={{ r_packages_state }} update_cache=yes
+  with_items: r_distribution_required_packages
+  when: r_needs_additional_distro_pkgs
+  tags: [ 'r_software', 'r_pkg' ]
+  
 - name: Ensure that the R plugin sources directory exists
   file: dest={{ r_source_plugins_dest_dir }} state=directory owner=root group=root
   when: r_plugins_from_sources is defined