2 files changed, 6 insertions, 3 deletions

diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 1c81c1387..b24826766 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -3,9 +3,10 @@ openssh (1:3.8.1p1-9) UNRELEASED; urgency=low
   * Split the ssh binary package into openssh-client and openssh-server
     (closes: #39741). openssh-server depends on openssh-client for some
     common functionality; it didn't seem worth creating yet another package
-    for this.
-  * New transitional ssh package, depending on openssh-client and
-    openssh-server. May be removed once nothing depends on it.
+    for this. openssh-client is priority standard, openssh-server optional.
+  * New transitional ssh package, priority optional, depending on
+    openssh-client and openssh-server. May be removed once nothing depends
+    on it.
   * When upgrading from ssh to openssh-{client,server}, it's very difficult
     for the maintainer scripts to find out what version we're upgrading from
     without dodgy dpkg hackery. I've therefore taken the opportunity to move
diff --git a/debian/control b/debian/control
index d0080e8ec..3fd8b21f9 100644
--- a/debian/control
+++ b/debian/control
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ Description: Secure shell client, an rlogin/rsh/rcp replacement
  without a special permit.
 
 Package: openssh-server
+Priority: optional
 Architecture: any
 Depends: ${shlibs:Depends}, ${debconf-depends}, ${pam-depends}, libpam-modules (>= 0.72-9), adduser (>= 3.9), dpkg (>= 1.9.0), openssh-client (= ${Source-Version})
 Conflicts: ssh-nonfree (<<2), ssh-socks, ssh2, sftp, rsh-client (<<0.16.1-1)
@@ -61,6 +62,7 @@ Description: Secure shell server, an rshd replacement
  without a special permit.
 
 Package: ssh
+Priority: optional
 Architecture: all
 Depends: openssh-client, openssh-server
 Description: Secure shell client and server (transitional package)