diff --git a/debian/compat b/debian/compat
index 7f8f011eb7..ec635144f6 100644
--- a/debian/compat
+++ b/debian/compat
@@ -1 +1 @@
-7
+9
diff --git a/debian/control b/debian/control
index c292d8295a..3f171a11ce 100644
--- a/debian/control
+++ b/debian/control
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ Source: git-annex
 Section: utils
 Priority: optional
 Build-Depends: 
-	debhelper (>= 7.0.50),
+	debhelper (>= 9),
 	ghc,
 	libghc-missingh-dev,
 	libghc-hslogger-dev,