diff --git a/bootstrap/bootstrap.py b/bootstrap/bootstrap.py
index 87846d1..0e9ba81 100644
--- a/bootstrap/bootstrap.py
+++ b/bootstrap/bootstrap.py
@@ -132,7 +132,6 @@ progress_page_html = """
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
-
 # This function is needed both by the process starting this script, and by the
 # TLJH installer that this script execs in the end. Make sure its replica at
 # tljh/utils.py stays in sync with this version!
@@ -200,15 +199,18 @@ def ensure_host_system_can_install_tljh():
             .strip()
         )
 
-    # Require Ubuntu 18.04+
+    # Require Ubuntu 18.04+ or Debian 10+
     distro = get_os_release_variable("ID")
     version = float(get_os_release_variable("VERSION_ID"))
-    if distro != "ubuntu":
-        print("The Littlest JupyterHub currently supports Ubuntu Linux only")
+    if distro not in ["ubuntu", "debian"]:
+        print("The Littlest JupyterHub currently supports Ubuntu or Debian Linux only")
         sys.exit(1)
-    elif float(version) < 18.04:
+    elif distro == "ubuntu" and float(version) < 18.04:
         print("The Littlest JupyterHub requires Ubuntu 18.04 or higher")
         sys.exit(1)
+    elif distro == "debian" and float(version) < 10:
+        print("The Littlest JupyterHub requires Debian 10 or higher")
+        sys.exit(1)
 
     # Require Python 3.6+
     if sys.version_info < (3, 6):
@@ -228,6 +230,7 @@ def ensure_host_system_can_install_tljh():
                 "For local development, see http://tljh.jupyter.org/en/latest/contributing/dev-setup.html"
             )
         sys.exit(1)
+    return distro, version 
 
 
 class ProgressPageRequestHandler(SimpleHTTPRequestHandler):
@@ -330,7 +333,7 @@ def main():
     start a local webserver temporarily and report its installation progress via
     a web site served locally on port 80.
     """
-    ensure_host_system_can_install_tljh()
+    distro, version = ensure_host_system_can_install_tljh()
 
     parser = ArgumentParser()
     parser.add_argument("--show-progress-page", action="store_true")
@@ -425,7 +428,9 @@ def main():
             ["apt-get", "install", "--yes", "software-properties-common"],
             env=apt_get_adjusted_env,
         )
-        run_subprocess(["add-apt-repository", "universe", "--yes"])
+        # Section "universe" exists and is required only in ubuntu.
+        if distro == "ubuntu":
+            run_subprocess(["add-apt-repository", "universe", "--yes"])
         run_subprocess(["apt-get", "update"])
         run_subprocess(
             [
@@ -436,6 +441,7 @@ def main():
                 "python3-venv",
                 "python3-pip",
                 "git",
+                "sudo", # sudo is missing in default debian install
             ],
             env=apt_get_adjusted_env,
         )