diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/distro/CmdInstall.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/distro/CmdInstall.py
index 7ec9039c..286e77f0 100644
--- a/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/distro/CmdInstall.py
+++ b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/distro/CmdInstall.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ class CmdInstall(Cmd): # export
     def add_arguments(self, parser: ArgumentParser) -> None:
         super().add_arguments(parser)
         parser.add_argument("packages", nargs="*", help="Packages to be installed")
+        parser.add_argument('--only-update', default=False, action='store_true', help='Only update the listed packages, don\'t install them')
 
     async def _run(self, args: Namespace) -> None:
         return await self._backend.run(args)
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/distro/backend/arch/Install.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/distro/backend/arch/Install.py
index b621fdd1..c309aa31 100644
--- a/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/distro/backend/arch/Install.py
+++ b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/distro/backend/arch/Install.py
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ class Install(Base):
         super().__init__(parent)
 
     async def run(self, args: Namespace):
+        if args.only_update:
+            raise NotImplementedError('--only-update is not yet implemented for pacman')
         pacman_args = ['-S', '--needed']
         pacman_args.extend(args.packages)
         await self.util.pacman(*pacman_args)
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/distro/backend/debian/Install.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/distro/backend/debian/Install.py
index ffcbce9a..a7d4615a 100644
--- a/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/distro/backend/debian/Install.py
+++ b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/distro/backend/debian/Install.py
@@ -11,4 +11,9 @@ class Install(Base):
         super().__init__(parent)
 
     async def run(self, args: Namespace):
-        return await self.util.apt_get('install', *args.packages)
+        apt_get_args = ['install']
+        if args.only_update:
+            apt_get_args.append('--only-upgrade')
+        apt_get_args.append('--no-install-recommends')
+        apt_get_args.extend(args.packages)
+        return await self.apt_get(apt_get_args)
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/distro/backend/redhat/Install.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/distro/backend/redhat/Install.py
index e6e291f3..74375db5 100644
--- a/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/distro/backend/redhat/Install.py
+++ b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/distro/backend/redhat/Install.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ class Install(Base):
         super().__init__(parent)
 
     async def run(self, args: Namespace):
-        yum_args = ['install']
+        yum_args = ['update' if args.only_update else 'install']
         if not self.interactive:
             yum_args.append['-y']
         yum_args.extend(args.packages)
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/distro/backend/suse/Install.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/distro/backend/suse/Install.py
index 665657b0..ad4e70af 100644
--- a/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/distro/backend/suse/Install.py
+++ b/src/python/jw/pkg/cmds/distro/backend/suse/Install.py
@@ -11,4 +11,5 @@ class Install(Base):
         super().__init__(parent)
 
     async def run(self, args: Namespace):
-        return await self.util.zypper(['install', *args.packages])
+        zypper_cmd = 'update' if args.only_update else 'install'
+        return await self.util.zypper([zypper_cmd, *args.packages])