diff --git a/rootfs-builder/debian/Dockerfile.in b/rootfs-builder/debian/Dockerfile.in
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f4eb4ca216
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rootfs-builder/debian/Dockerfile.in
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+#
+# Copyright (c) 2018 SUSE
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+# NOTE: OS_VERSION is set according to config.sh
+from debian:@OS_VERSION@
+
+# RUN commands
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y curl wget systemd debootstrap git build-essential
+# This will install the proper golang to build Kata components
+@INSTALL_GO@
+
diff --git a/rootfs-builder/debian/config.sh b/rootfs-builder/debian/config.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3fd64bbefc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rootfs-builder/debian/config.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+#
+# Copyright (c) 2018 SUSE
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+OS_VERSION=${OS_VERSION:-9.5}
+
+# Set OS_NAME to the desired debian "codename"
+OS_NAME=${OS_NAME:-"stretch"}
+
+# NOTE: Re-using ubuntu rootfs configuration, see 'ubuntu' folder for full content.
+source $script_dir/ubuntu/$CONFIG_SH
diff --git a/rootfs-builder/debian/rootfs_lib.sh b/rootfs-builder/debian/rootfs_lib.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f6aae26364
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rootfs-builder/debian/rootfs_lib.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+#
+# Copyright (c) 2018 SUSE
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+# NOTE: Re-using ubuntu rootfs lib, see 'ubuntu' folder for details.
+source ${script_dir}/ubuntu/$LIB_SH
diff --git a/tests/test_images.sh b/tests/test_images.sh
index 3b6f417c2f..194970edab 100755
--- a/tests/test_images.sh
+++ b/tests/test_images.sh
@@ -440,6 +440,12 @@ test_distro_ubuntu()
        run_test "${name}" "" "ubuntu" "service" "no"
 }
 
+test_distro_debian()
+{
+       local -r name="Can create and run debian image"
+       run_test "${name}" "" "debian" "service" "no"
+}
+
 
 test_distro_fedora()
 {
@@ -526,6 +532,7 @@ test_all_distros()
 	test_distro_centos
 	test_distro_alpine
 	test_distro_ubuntu
+	test_distro_debian
 	if [ $MACHINE_TYPE != "ppc64le" ]; then
 	   test_distro_clearlinux