diff --git a/files/debs/general b/files/debs/general
index 5047c12249..84d43029ff 100644
--- a/files/debs/general
+++ b/files/debs/general
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ unzip
 wget
 psmisc
 gcc
+g++
 git
 graphviz # testonly - docs
 lsof # useful when debugging
diff --git a/files/rpms-suse/general b/files/rpms-suse/general
index 63ef705b64..7f4bbfb1b6 100644
--- a/files/rpms-suse/general
+++ b/files/rpms-suse/general
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ ca-certificates-mozilla
 curl
 euca2ools
 gcc
+gcc-c++
 git-core
 graphviz # testonly - docs
 iputils
diff --git a/files/rpms/general b/files/rpms/general
index 6f2239196b..a648214a7b 100644
--- a/files/rpms/general
+++ b/files/rpms/general
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ curl
 dbus
 euca2ools # only for testing client
 gcc
+gcc-c++
 git-core
 graphviz # testonly - docs
 openssh-server