diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 37bb77814..3b01fd4b4 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ RUN echo "dokku dokku/hostname string $DOKKU_HOSTNAME" | debconf-set-selections
       && cp /tmp/dhparam.pem /etc/nginx/dhparam.pem \
       && apt-get update -qq \
       && apt-get upgrade -qq -y \
-      && apt-get install --no-install-recommends --only-upgrade -qq -y openssl openssh-server \
-      && apt install --no-install-recommends -qq -y rsync /tmp/dokku.deb \
+      && apt-get -qq -y --no-install-recommends install --only-upgrade openssl openssh-server \
+      && apt-get -qq -y --no-install-recommends install rsync /tmp/dokku.deb \
       && apt-get purge -qq -y syslog-ng-core \
       && apt-get autoremove -qq -y \
       && apt-get clean && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/* /tmp/* /var/tmp/*
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 39509a5c7..7e3a7674f 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -130,16 +130,16 @@ apt-update:
 	apt-get update -qq
 
 jq:
-	apt-get install -qq -y jq
+	apt-get -qq -y --no-install-recommends install jq
 
 dos2unix:
-	apt-get install -qq -y dos2unix
+	apt-get -qq -y --no-install-recommends install dos2unix
 
 help2man:
-	apt-get install -qq -y help2man
+	apt-get -qq -y --no-install-recommends install help2man
 
 man-db:
-	apt-get install -qq -y man-db
+	apt-get -qq -y --no-install-recommends install man-db
 
 sshcommand:
 	wget -qO /tmp/sshcommand_latest.tgz ${SSHCOMMAND_URL}
@@ -159,13 +159,13 @@ sigil:
 	tar xzf /tmp/sigil_latest.tgz -C /usr/local/bin
 
 docker:
-	apt-get install -qq -y curl
+	apt-get -qq -y --no-install-recommends install curl
 	grep -i -E "^docker" /etc/group || groupadd docker
 	usermod -aG docker dokku
 ifndef CI
 	wget -nv -O - https://get.docker.com/ | sh
 ifdef DOCKER_VERSION
-	apt-get install -qq -y docker-engine=${DOCKER_VERSION} || (apt-cache madison docker-engine ; exit 1)
+	apt-get -qq -y --no-install-recommends install docker-engine=${DOCKER_VERSION} || (apt-cache madison docker-engine ; exit 1)
 endif
 	sleep 2 # give docker a moment i guess
 endif
diff --git a/Vagrantfile b/Vagrantfile
index 309dfb975..01cfb4919 100644
--- a/Vagrantfile
+++ b/Vagrantfile
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ Vagrant::configure("2") do |config|
       vb.customize ["modifyvm", :id, "--cableconnected1", "on"]
     end
 
-    vm.vm.provision :shell, :inline => "export DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive && apt-get update >/dev/null && apt-get -qq -y install git build-essential >/dev/null && cd /root/dokku && #{make_cmd}"
+    vm.vm.provision :shell, :inline => "export DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive && apt-get update -qq >/dev/null && apt-get -qq -y --no-install-recommends install git build-essential >/dev/null && cd /root/dokku && #{make_cmd}"
     vm.vm.provision :shell, :inline => "cd /root/dokku && make dokku-installer"
     vm.vm.provision :shell do |s|
       s.inline = <<-EOT
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ Vagrant::configure("2") do |config|
     vm.vm.network :forwarded_port, guest: 80, host: FORWARDED_PORT
     vm.vm.hostname = "#{DOKKU_DOMAIN}"
     vm.vm.network :private_network, ip: DOKKU_IP
-    vm.vm.provision :shell, :inline => "export DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive && apt-get update >/dev/null && apt-get -qq -y install git dos2unix >/dev/null"
+    vm.vm.provision :shell, :inline => "export DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive && apt-get update -qq >/dev/null && apt-get -qq -y --no-install-recommends install git dos2unix >/dev/null"
     vm.vm.provision :shell, :inline => "cd /vagrant/ && export DOKKU_BRANCH=`git symbolic-ref -q --short HEAD 2>/dev/null` && export DOKKU_TAG=`git describe --tags --exact-match 2>/dev/null` && cd /root/ && cp /vagrant/bootstrap.sh ./ && dos2unix bootstrap.sh && bash bootstrap.sh"
   end
 
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ Vagrant::configure("2") do |config|
     vm.vm.network :forwarded_port, guest: 80, host: FORWARDED_PORT
     vm.vm.hostname = "#{DOKKU_DOMAIN}"
     vm.vm.network :private_network, ip: DOKKU_IP
-    vm.vm.provision :shell, :inline => "export DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive && apt-get update >/dev/null && apt-get -qq -y install git >/dev/null && cd /root/dokku && #{make_cmd}"
+    vm.vm.provision :shell, :inline => "export DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive && apt-get update -qq >/dev/null && apt-get -qq -y --no-install-recommends install git >/dev/null && cd /root/dokku && #{make_cmd}"
     vm.vm.provision :shell, :inline => "export IS_RELEASE=true && cd /root/dokku && make deb-all rpm-all"
   end
 
diff --git a/bootstrap.sh b/bootstrap.sh
index 5b3b9db62..b46d5d03c 100755
--- a/bootstrap.sh
+++ b/bootstrap.sh
@@ -42,13 +42,13 @@ install-requirements() {
     debian)
       if ! dpkg -l | grep -q software-properties-common; then
         apt-get update -qq >/dev/null
-        apt-get -qq -y install software-properties-common
+        apt-get -qq -y --no-install-recommends install software-properties-common
       fi
       ;;
     ubuntu)
       if ! dpkg -l | grep -q software-properties-common; then
         apt-get update -qq >/dev/null
-        apt-get -qq -y install software-properties-common
+        apt-get -qq -y --no-install-recommends install software-properties-common
       fi
 
       add-apt-repository universe >/dev/null
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ install-dokku-from-source() {
     log-fail "This installation script requires apt-get. For manual installation instructions, consult http://dokku.viewdocs.io/dokku/advanced-installation/"
   fi
 
-  apt-get -qq -y install sudo git make software-properties-common
+  apt-get -qq -y --no-install-recommends install sudo git make software-properties-common
   cd /root
   if [[ ! -d /root/dokku ]]; then
     git clone "$DOKKU_REPO" /root/dokku
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ install-dokku-from-deb-package() {
 
   echo "--> Initial apt-get update"
   apt-get update -qq >/dev/null
-  apt-get -qq -y install apt-transport-https
+  apt-get -qq -y --no-install-recommends install apt-transport-https
 
   if ! command -v docker &>/dev/null; then
     echo "--> Installing docker"
diff --git a/contrib/build-base.Dockerfile b/contrib/build-base.Dockerfile
index f17d1ff56..f553a8cc9 100644
--- a/contrib/build-base.Dockerfile
+++ b/contrib/build-base.Dockerfile
@@ -2,5 +2,5 @@ FROM ubuntu:18.04
 
 ENV DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive
 
-RUN apt-get update && apt-get -y install gcc git build-essential wget ruby-dev ruby1.9.1 lintian rpm help2man man-db
+RUN apt-get update -qq && apt-get -qq -y --no-install-recommends install gcc git build-essential wget ruby-dev ruby1.9.1 lintian rpm help2man man-db
 RUN command -v fpm >/dev/null || sudo gem install fpm --no-ri --no-rdoc
diff --git a/contrib/build-dokku-update.Dockerfile b/contrib/build-dokku-update.Dockerfile
index 371f5a9b5..b496efbcf 100644
--- a/contrib/build-dokku-update.Dockerfile
+++ b/contrib/build-dokku-update.Dockerfile
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ FROM dokku/build-base:0.0.1
 
 ENV DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive
 
-RUN apt-get update && apt-get -y install gcc git build-essential wget ruby-dev ruby1.9.1 lintian rpm help2man man-db
+RUN apt-get update -qq && apt-get -qq -y --no-install-recommends install gcc git build-essential wget ruby-dev ruby1.9.1 lintian rpm help2man man-db
 RUN command -v fpm >/dev/null || sudo gem install fpm --no-ri --no-rdoc
 
 ARG WORKDIR=/go/src/github.com/dokku/dokku
diff --git a/contrib/build-dokku.Dockerfile b/contrib/build-dokku.Dockerfile
index a37c7f901..0262fddfd 100644
--- a/contrib/build-dokku.Dockerfile
+++ b/contrib/build-dokku.Dockerfile
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ FROM dokku/build-base:0.0.1
 
 ENV DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive
 
-RUN apt-get update && apt-get -y install gcc git build-essential wget ruby-dev ruby1.9.1 lintian rpm help2man man-db
+RUN apt-get update -qq && apt-get -qq -y --no-install-recommends install gcc git build-essential wget ruby-dev ruby1.9.1 lintian rpm help2man man-db
 RUN command -v fpm >/dev/null || sudo gem install fpm --no-ri --no-rdoc
 
 ARG GOLANG_VERSION
diff --git a/contrib/packer.json b/contrib/packer.json
index 31fdc20cf..96a60e5b2 100644
--- a/contrib/packer.json
+++ b/contrib/packer.json
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
         "sudo apt-get update -qq >/dev/null",
 
         "echo '--> Installing make requirement'",
-        "sudo apt-get -qq -y install build-essential",
+        "sudo apt-get -qq -y --no-install-recommends install build-essential",
 
         "cd /tmp && make install-from-deb",
         "rm /root/.ssh/authorized_keys"
diff --git a/deb.mk b/deb.mk
index cbc420b0e..4b0260548 100644
--- a/deb.mk
+++ b/deb.mk
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ export SIGIL_DESCRIPTION
 install-from-deb:
 	@echo "--> Initial apt-get update"
 	sudo apt-get update -qq >/dev/null
-	sudo apt-get install -qq -y apt-transport-https
+	sudo apt-get -qq -y --no-install-recommends install apt-transport-https
 
 	@echo "--> Installing docker"
 	wget -nv -O - https://get.docker.com/ | sh
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ install-from-deb:
 	wget -nv -O - https://packagecloud.io/dokku/dokku/gpgkey | apt-key add -
 	@echo "deb https://packagecloud.io/dokku/dokku/ubuntu/ $(shell lsb_release -cs 2>/dev/null || echo "bionic") main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/dokku.list
 	sudo apt-get update -qq >/dev/null
-	sudo DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive DEBCONF_NONINTERACTIVE_SEEN=true apt-get install -yy dokku
+	sudo DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive DEBCONF_NONINTERACTIVE_SEEN=true apt-get -qq -y --no-install-recommends install dokku
 
 deb-all: deb-setup deb-dokku deb-sigil deb-dokku-update
 	mv $(BUILD_DIRECTORY)/*.deb .
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ deb-all: deb-setup deb-dokku deb-sigil deb-dokku-update
 deb-setup:
 	@echo "-> Updating deb repository and installing build requirements"
 	@sudo apt-get update -qq >/dev/null
-	@sudo DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive DEBCONF_NONINTERACTIVE_SEEN=true apt-get install -qq -y gcc git build-essential wget ruby-dev ruby1.9.1 lintian >/dev/null 2>&1
+	@sudo DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive DEBCONF_NONINTERACTIVE_SEEN=true apt-get -qq -y --no-install-recommends install gcc git build-essential wget ruby-dev ruby1.9.1 lintian >/dev/null 2>&1
 	@command -v fpm >/dev/null || sudo gem install fpm --no-ri --no-rdoc
 	@ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no git@github.com || true
 
diff --git a/docs/development/plugin-triggers.md b/docs/development/plugin-triggers.md
index f516b17c6..0924d087e 100644
--- a/docs/development/plugin-triggers.md
+++ b/docs/development/plugin-triggers.md
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ export DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive
 
 case "$DOKKU_DISTRO" in
   debian|ubuntu)
-    apt-get install -qq -y nginx
+    apt-get -qq -y --no-install-recommends install nginx
     ;;
 
   opensuse)
@@ -1465,7 +1465,7 @@ dokku_log_info1 "Installing GraphicsMagick..."
 
 CMD="cat > gm && \
   dpkg -s graphicsmagick >/dev/null 2>&1 || \
-  (apt-get update && apt-get install -y graphicsmagick && apt-get clean)"
+  (apt-get update -qq && apt-get -qq -y --no-install-recommends install graphicsmagick && apt-get clean)"
 
 CID=$(docker run $DOKKU_GLOBAL_RUN_ARGS -i -a stdin $IMAGE /bin/bash -c "$CMD")
 test $(docker wait $CID) -eq 0
diff --git a/docs/getting-started/install/debian.md b/docs/getting-started/install/debian.md
index c4f619011..f79762e9f 100644
--- a/docs/getting-started/install/debian.md
+++ b/docs/getting-started/install/debian.md
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ As of 0.3.18, Dokku defaults to being installed via Debian package. While certai
 ```shell
 # install prerequisites
 sudo apt-get update -qq >/dev/null
-sudo apt-get install -qq -y apt-transport-https
+sudo apt-get -qq -y --no-install-recommends install apt-transport-https
 
 # install docker
 wget -nv -O - https://get.docker.com/ | sh
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ OS_ID="$(lsb_release -cs 2>/dev/null || echo "bionic")"
 echo "xenial bionic focal" | grep -q "$OS_ID" || OS_ID="bionic"
 echo "deb https://packagecloud.io/dokku/dokku/ubuntu/ ${OS_ID} main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/dokku.list
 sudo apt-get update -qq >/dev/null
-sudo apt-get install -qq -y dokku
+sudo apt-get -qq -y install dokku
 sudo dokku plugin:install-dependencies --core
 ```
 
diff --git a/docs/getting-started/upgrading.md b/docs/getting-started/upgrading.md
index abeb8832d..e6298b847 100644
--- a/docs/getting-started/upgrading.md
+++ b/docs/getting-started/upgrading.md
@@ -89,17 +89,17 @@ When installing from source, this is available from `contrib/dokku-update`, and
 
 ## Upgrading using `apt`
 
-If Dokku was installed in a Debian or Ubuntu system, via `apt install dokku` or `bootstrap.sh`, you can upgrade with `apt`:
+If Dokku was installed in a Debian or Ubuntu system, via `apt-get install dokku` or `bootstrap.sh`, you can upgrade with `apt-get`:
 
 ```shell
 # update your local apt cache
-sudo apt update
+sudo apt-get update
 
 # update dokku and its dependencies
-sudo apt install -qq -y dokku herokuish sshcommand plugn gliderlabs-sigil
+sudo apt-get -qq -y install dokku herokuish sshcommand plugn gliderlabs-sigil
 
 # or just upgrade every package:
-sudo apt upgrade
+sudo apt-get upgrade
 ```
 
 ## Upgrading from source
diff --git a/plugins/nginx-vhosts/dependencies b/plugins/nginx-vhosts/dependencies
index e8ea1b238..534e8bd4f 100755
--- a/plugins/nginx-vhosts/dependencies
+++ b/plugins/nginx-vhosts/dependencies
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ nginx_needs_upgrade() {
 nginx_install() {
   declare desc="install nginx and dnsutils"
   export DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive
-  apt-get install -o Dpkg::Options::="--force-confdef" -o Dpkg::Options::="--force-confold" -qq -y nginx dnsutils
+  apt-get -qq -y --no-install-recommends install -o Dpkg::Options::="--force-confdef" -o Dpkg::Options::="--force-confold" nginx dnsutils
 }
 
 trigger-nginx-vhosts-dependencies() {
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ trigger-nginx-vhosts-dependencies() {
       [[ "$ubuntu_year" -ge "16" ]] && exit 0
       [[ "$ubuntu_year" -eq "15" ]] && [[ "$ubuntu_month" -eq "10" ]] && exit 0
 
-      [[ -z "$CIRCLECI" ]] && apt-get install -qq -y software-properties-common python-software-properties
+      [[ -z "$CIRCLECI" ]] && apt-get -qq -y --no-install-recommends install software-properties-common python-software-properties
       [[ -n "$CIRCLECI" ]] && aptitude install -q -y software-properties-common python-software-properties
 
       add-apt-repository -y ppa:nginx/stable
diff --git a/rpm.mk b/rpm.mk
index 77e2e1bf4..5faf98857 100644
--- a/rpm.mk
+++ b/rpm.mk
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ rpm-all: rpm-setup rpm-dokku rpm-sigil rpm-dokku-update
 rpm-setup:
 	@echo "-> Installing rpm build requirements"
 	@sudo apt-get update -qq >/dev/null
-	@sudo DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive DEBCONF_NONINTERACTIVE_SEEN=true apt-get install -qq -y gcc git build-essential wget ruby-dev ruby1.9.1 rpm >/dev/null 2>&1
+	@sudo DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive DEBCONF_NONINTERACTIVE_SEEN=true apt-get -qq -y --no-install-recommends install gcc git build-essential wget ruby-dev ruby1.9.1 rpm >/dev/null 2>&1
 	@command -v fpm >/dev/null || sudo gem install fpm --no-ri --no-rdoc
 	@ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no git@github.com || true
 
diff --git a/tests.mk b/tests.mk
index cdaa90ed0..4f9b5858c 100644
--- a/tests.mk
+++ b/tests.mk
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ ifneq ($(shell shellcheck --version >/dev/null 2>&1 ; echo $$?),0)
 ifeq ($(SYSTEM),Darwin)
 	brew install shellcheck
 else
-	sudo apt-get update -qq && sudo apt-get install -qq -y shellcheck
+	sudo apt-get update -qq && sudo apt-get -qq -y --no-install-recommends install shellcheck
 endif
 endif
 
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ ifneq ($(shell xmlstarlet --version >/dev/null 2>&1 ; echo $$?),0)
 ifeq ($(SYSTEM),Darwin)
 	brew install xmlstarlet
 else
-	sudo apt-get update -qq && sudo apt-get install -qq -y xmlstarlet
+	sudo apt-get update -qq && sudo apt-get -qq -y --no-install-recommends install xmlstarlet
 endif
 endif
 
diff --git a/tests/ci/setup.sh b/tests/ci/setup.sh
index 3218cf46e..f407c75df 100755
--- a/tests/ci/setup.sh
+++ b/tests/ci/setup.sh
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ install_dependencies() {
   curl -L "https://packagecloud.io/dokku/dokku/packages/ubuntu/bionic/procfile-util_${PROCFILE_VERSION}_amd64.deb/download.deb" -o "$ROOT_DIR/build/${PROCFILE_UTIL_PACKAGE_NAME}"
 
   sudo add-apt-repository -y ppa:nginx/stable
-  sudo apt-get update
-  sudo apt-get -qq -y install cgroupfs-mount dos2unix jq nginx
+  sudo apt-get update -qq
+  sudo apt-get -qq -y --no-install-recommends install cgroupfs-mount dos2unix jq nginx
   sudo cp "${ROOT_DIR}/tests/dhparam.pem" /etc/nginx/dhparam.pem
 
   sudo dpkg -i "${ROOT_DIR}/build/$HEROKUISH_PACKAGE_NAME" \