diff --git a/edubox.yml b/edubox.yml
index b1b102d..b490eae 100644
--- a/edubox.yml
+++ b/edubox.yml
@@ -29,9 +29,13 @@
     contpwd: ""
     ## Adjust the number of containers here:
     containers: "{{ range(0, 9 + 1) | list }}"
-    extra_pkgs: [apt-cacher-ng]
 
   pre_tasks:
+    - name: install apt-cacher-ng
+      apt:
+        name: apt-cacher-ng
+        state: latest
+
     - name: enable apt-cacher-ng
       lineinfile:
         path: /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/30proxy
diff --git a/roles/educontainer/tasks/main.yml b/roles/educontainer/tasks/main.yml
index 3e6f1f8..70381af 100644
--- a/roles/educontainer/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/educontainer/tasks/main.yml
@@ -56,6 +56,13 @@
 
 ###########
 
+- name: install packages
+  apt:
+    name:
+      - systemd-container
+      - debootstrap
+    state: latest
+
 - name: debootstrap minimal system
   command:
     cmd: >
@@ -153,6 +160,11 @@
   loop: "{{ containers[1:] }}"
   notify: enable and restart containers
 
+- name: prepare nspawn config directory
+  file:
+    path: /etc/systemd/nspawn
+    state: directory
+
 - name: provide container configuration
   template:
     src: contcfg.nspawn.j2