diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/Distro.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/Distro.py
index b4dbd5bf..a34f4246 100644
--- a/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/Distro.py
+++ b/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/Distro.py
@@ -401,17 +401,27 @@ class Distro(abc.ABC):
     async def _install(self, names: Iterable[str], only_update: bool) -> None:
         pass
 
-    # Default implementation assumes package manager can handle local files.
-    # Not true for all distros. Override if Distro knows better.
+    # The default route passes local files to the package manager, which
+    # resolves their dependencies. The direct route (install_deps = False)
+    # is not available here; override in descendants that offer it.
     async def _install_local_files(
-        self, paths: Iterable[str], only_update: bool
+        self, paths: Iterable[str], only_update: bool, install_deps: bool
     ) -> None:
+        assert not (only_update and install_deps)
+        if not install_deps:
+            raise NotImplementedError(
+                f'Installing local files without dependency resolution '
+                f'is not supported on {self.os}'
+            )
         await self._install(paths, only_update = only_update)
 
     # Download first and then install. Override if Distro knows better.
-    async def _install_urls(self, urls: Iterable[str], only_update: bool) -> None:
+    async def _install_urls(
+        self, urls: Iterable[str], only_update: bool, install_deps: bool
+    ) -> None:
         from .util import copy
 
+        assert not (only_update and install_deps)
         tmp: str | None = None
         try:
             tmp = await self.__exec_context.mktemp(
@@ -424,7 +434,9 @@ class Distro(abc.ABC):
                 raise paths
             if isinstance(paths, str):
                 paths = [paths]
-            await self._install_local_files(paths, only_update = only_update)
+            await self._install_local_files(
+                paths, only_update = only_update, install_deps = install_deps
+            )
         finally:
             if tmp is not None:
                 await self.__exec_context.erase(tmp)
@@ -434,8 +446,10 @@ class Distro(abc.ABC):
     # - Pass names to package manager
     # Override if Distro knows better.
     async def _install_urls_and_names(
-        self, packages: Iterable[str], only_update: bool
+        self, packages: Iterable[str], only_update: bool, install_deps: bool
     ) -> None:
+
+        assert not (only_update and install_deps)
         urls: list[str] = []
         names: list[str] = []
         for package in packages:
@@ -447,15 +461,25 @@ class Distro(abc.ABC):
                 continue
             names.append(package)
         if urls:
-            await self._install_urls(urls, only_update = only_update)
+            await self._install_urls(
+                urls, only_update = only_update, install_deps = install_deps
+            )
         if names:
             await self._install(names, only_update = only_update)
 
-    async def install(self, names: Collection[str], only_update: bool = False) -> None:
+    async def install(
+        self,
+        names: Collection[str],
+        only_update: bool,
+        install_deps: bool = True,
+    ) -> None:
+        assert not (only_update and install_deps)
         if not names:
             log(WARNING, 'No packages specified for installation')
             return
-        await self._install_urls_and_names(names, only_update = only_update)
+        await self._install_urls_and_names(
+            names, only_update = only_update, install_deps = install_deps
+        )
 
     # -- delete
 
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/distros/debian/Distro.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/distros/debian/Distro.py
index 33a0e203..ac719267 100644
--- a/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/distros/debian/Distro.py
+++ b/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/distros/debian/Distro.py
@@ -6,7 +6,13 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, override
 
 from ...Distro import Distro as Base
 from ...log import NOTICE, log
-from ...pm.dpkg import list_files, query_packages, run_dpkg, verify_packages
+from ...pm.dpkg import (
+    install_packages,
+    list_files,
+    query_packages,
+    run_dpkg,
+    verify_packages,
+)
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from typing import Iterable
@@ -81,6 +87,17 @@ class Distro(Base):
         args.extend(names)
         await self.apt_get(args)
 
+    @override
+    async def _install_local_files(
+        self, paths: Iterable[str], only_update: bool, install_deps: bool
+    ) -> None:
+        if install_deps:
+            await self._install(paths, only_update = False)
+            return
+        await install_packages(
+            paths, ec = self.ctx, force = True, only_update = only_update
+        )
+
     @override
     async def _delete(self, names: Iterable[str]) -> None:
         await self.dpkg(['-P', *names], sudo = True)
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/distros/redhat/Distro.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/distros/redhat/Distro.py
index fbf1f37d..b365c3ad 100644
--- a/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/distros/redhat/Distro.py
+++ b/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/distros/redhat/Distro.py
@@ -3,7 +3,13 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, override
 
 from ...Distro import Distro as Base
-from ...pm.rpm import list_files, query_packages, run_rpm, verify_packages
+from ...pm.rpm import (
+    install_packages,
+    list_files,
+    query_packages,
+    run_rpm,
+    verify_packages,
+)
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from typing import Any, Collection, Iterable
@@ -66,6 +72,17 @@ class Distro(Base):
         args.extend(names)
         await self.yum(args)
 
+    @override
+    async def _install_local_files(
+        self, paths: Iterable[str], only_update: bool, install_deps: bool
+    ) -> None:
+        if install_deps:
+            await self._install(paths, only_update = False)
+            return
+        await install_packages(
+            paths, ec = self.ctx, force = True, only_update = only_update
+        )
+
     @override
     async def _delete(self, names: Iterable[str]) -> None:
         await self.rpm(['-e', *names], sudo = True)
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/distros/suse/Distro.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/distros/suse/Distro.py
index b23bb278..b143d839 100644
--- a/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/distros/suse/Distro.py
+++ b/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/distros/suse/Distro.py
@@ -3,7 +3,13 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, override
 
 from ...Distro import Distro as Base
-from ...pm.rpm import list_files, query_packages, run_rpm, verify_packages
+from ...pm.rpm import (
+    install_packages,
+    list_files,
+    query_packages,
+    run_rpm,
+    verify_packages,
+)
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from collections.abc import Collection
@@ -87,9 +93,14 @@ class Distro(Base):
 
     @override
     async def _install_local_files(
-        self, paths: Iterable[str], only_update: bool
+        self, paths: Iterable[str], only_update: bool, install_deps: bool
     ) -> None:
-        await self.rpm(['-U', '--reinstall', *paths])
+        if install_deps:
+            await self._install(paths, only_update = False)
+            return
+        await install_packages(
+            paths, ec = self.ctx, force = True, only_update = only_update
+        )
 
     @override
     async def _delete(self, names: Iterable[str]) -> None:
diff --git a/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/Distro/test.py b/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/Distro/test.py
index 37902e22..1725d5de 100644
--- a/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/Distro/test.py
+++ b/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/Distro/test.py
@@ -286,4 +286,23 @@ sde = SuseDistro(
 assert asyncio.run(sde.pkg_files()) == []
 assert '--queryformat' in cl.cmds[-1]
 
+# -- _install_local_files --
+
+# -- With dependency resolution, the files go to the package manager;
+#    DummyDistro._install() is a no-op
+asyncio.run(
+    d._install_local_files(['/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-42.rpm'], False, install_deps = True)
+)
+
+# -- Without, the base implementation raises: there is no direct route
+try:
+    asyncio.run(
+        d._install_local_files(
+            ['/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-42.rpm'], False, install_deps = False
+        )
+    )
+    assert False, 'Should have raised'
+except NotImplementedError:
+    pass
+
 print('All Distro tests passed')
diff --git a/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/distros/Makefile b/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/distros/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7b64e78c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/distros/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+TOPDIR = ../../../../../../../
+
+include $(TOPDIR)/make/proj.mk
+include $(JWBDIR)/make/dirs.mk
diff --git a/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/distros/debian/Makefile b/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/distros/debian/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4801122b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/distros/debian/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+TOPDIR = ../../../../../../../..
+
+include $(TOPDIR)/make/proj.mk
+include $(JWBDIR)/make/py-run.mk
+
+all:
+test: run
diff --git a/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/distros/debian/test.py b/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/distros/debian/test.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f5370e8a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/distros/debian/test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import asyncio
+
+from typing import override
+
+from jw.pkg.lib.distros.debian.Distro import Distro as DebianDistro
+from jw.pkg.lib.ec.Local import Local
+from jw.pkg.lib.Result import Result
+
+class DispatchLocal(Local):
+    """A canned execution context that answers dpkg queries and
+    the apt simulation"""
+
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        files: dict[str, str],
+        installed: dict[str, str],
+        simulate: str,
+    ) -> None:
+        super().__init__('local')
+        self.files = files
+        self.installed = installed
+        self.simulate = simulate
+        self.cmds: list[list[str]] = []
+
+    @override
+    async def _run(
+        self,
+        cmd: list[str],
+        wd: str | None,
+        verbose: bool,
+        cmd_input: bytes | None,
+        mod_env: dict[str, str] | None,
+        interactive: bool,
+        log_prefix: str,
+    ) -> Result:
+        self.cmds.append(cmd)
+        if '-I' in cmd:
+            return Result(stdout = self.files.get(cmd[-1], '').encode(), status = 0)
+        if cmd[0].endswith('dpkg-query'):
+            name = cmd[-1]
+            return Result(
+                stdout = self.installed.get(name, '').encode(),
+                status = 0 if name in self.installed else 1,
+            )
+        if '/usr/bin/apt-get' in cmd and '-s' in cmd:
+            return Result(stdout = self.simulate.encode(), status = 0)
+        return Result(stdout = b'', status = 0)
+
+def dpkg_args(cmd: list[str]) -> list[str]:
+    """The dpkg command without the sudo prefix and its options"""
+    return cmd[cmd.index('/usr/bin/dpkg'):]
+
+# -- A mixed transaction runs two installs, the upgrades first: the
+# distro installs local files with force, which keeps the reinstall
+# semantics for already-installed versions
+cl = DispatchLocal(
+    files = {
+        '/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-42.deb': 'Package: jw-base\nVersion: 1.0.0-42',
+        '/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-41.deb': 'Package: jw-base\nVersion: 1.0.0-41',
+    },
+    installed = {'jw-base': 'jw-base|||||1.0.0-42'},
+    simulate = 'Inst jw-base [1.0.0-41]\n',
+)
+d = DebianDistro(cl, id = 'debian')
+asyncio.run(
+    d._install_local_files(
+        ['/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-42.deb', '/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-41.deb'],
+        False,
+        install_deps = False,
+    )
+)
+installs = [dpkg_args(cmd) for cmd in cl.cmds if '-i' in cmd]
+assert installs == [
+    ['/usr/bin/dpkg', '-i', '/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-41.deb'],
+    [
+        '/usr/bin/dpkg',
+        '-i',
+        '--force-reinstall',
+        '/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-42.deb',
+    ],
+]
+
+# -- only_update raises on files whose package is not installed
+cl = DispatchLocal(
+    files = {
+        '/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-42.deb': 'Package: jw-base\nVersion: 1.0.0-42',
+        '/a/jw-foo-run-1.0.0-42.deb': 'Package: jw-foo\nVersion: 1.0.0-42',
+    },
+    installed = {'jw-base': 'jw-base|||||1.0.0-42'},
+    simulate = '',
+)
+d = DebianDistro(cl, id = 'debian')
+try:
+    asyncio.run(
+        d._install_local_files(
+            ['/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-42.deb', '/a/jw-foo-run-1.0.0-42.deb'],
+            True,
+            install_deps = False,
+        )
+    )
+except Exception as e:
+    assert '/a/jw-foo-run-1.0.0-42.deb' in str(e)
+else:
+    raise AssertionError('expected an exception')
+assert not [cmd for cmd in cl.cmds if '-i' in cmd]
+
+# -- deps routes local files through the package manager
+cl = DispatchLocal(
+    files = {'/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-42.deb': 'Package: jw-base\nVersion: 1.0.0-42'},
+    installed = {'jw-base': 'jw-base|||||1.0.0-42'},
+    simulate = '',
+)
+d = DebianDistro(cl, id = 'debian')
+asyncio.run(
+    d._install_local_files(['/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-42.deb'], False, install_deps = True)
+)
+pm_cmds = [cmd for cmd in cl.cmds if '/usr/bin/apt-get' in cmd]
+assert len(pm_cmds) == 1
+args = pm_cmds[0][pm_cmds[0].index('/usr/bin/apt-get'):]
+assert 'install' in args
+assert '--no-install-recommends' in args
+assert args[-1] == '/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-42.deb'
+assert not [cmd for cmd in cl.cmds if '-i' in cmd]
+
+print('All debian distro tests passed')
diff --git a/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/distros/redhat/Makefile b/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/distros/redhat/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4801122b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/distros/redhat/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+TOPDIR = ../../../../../../../..
+
+include $(TOPDIR)/make/proj.mk
+include $(JWBDIR)/make/py-run.mk
+
+all:
+test: run
diff --git a/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/distros/redhat/test.py b/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/distros/redhat/test.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..121fcb96
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/distros/redhat/test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import asyncio
+
+from typing import override
+
+from jw.pkg.lib.distros.redhat.Distro import Distro as RedhatDistro
+from jw.pkg.lib.ec.Local import Local
+from jw.pkg.lib.Result import Result
+
+class DispatchLocal(Local):
+    """A canned execution context that answers rpm queries"""
+
+    def __init__(self, files: dict[str, str], installed: dict[str, str]) -> None:
+        super().__init__('local')
+        self.files = files
+        self.installed = installed
+        self.cmds: list[list[str]] = []
+
+    @override
+    async def _run(
+        self,
+        cmd: list[str],
+        wd: str | None,
+        verbose: bool,
+        cmd_input: bytes | None,
+        mod_env: dict[str, str] | None,
+        interactive: bool,
+        log_prefix: str,
+    ) -> Result:
+        self.cmds.append(cmd)
+        if '-qp' in cmd:
+            return Result(stdout = self.files.get(cmd[-1], '').encode(), status = 0)
+        if '-q' in cmd:
+            name = cmd[-1]
+            return Result(
+                stdout = self.installed.get(name, '').encode(),
+                status = 0 if name in self.installed else 1,
+            )
+        return Result(stdout = b'', status = 0)
+
+def rpm_args(cmd: list[str]) -> list[str]:
+    """The rpm command without the sudo prefix and its options"""
+    return cmd[cmd.index('/usr/bin/rpm'):]
+
+# -- A mixed transaction runs two installs, the upgrades first: the
+# distro installs local files with force, which keeps the reinstall
+# semantics for already-installed versions
+cl = DispatchLocal(
+    files = {
+        '/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-42.x86_64.rpm': 'jw-base\t1.0.0-42',
+        '/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-41.x86_64.rpm': 'jw-base\t1.0.0-41',
+    },
+    installed = {'jw-base': 'jw-base|||||1.0.0-42\n'},
+)
+d = RedhatDistro(cl, id = 'redhat')
+asyncio.run(
+    d._install_local_files(
+        ['/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-42.x86_64.rpm', '/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-41.x86_64.rpm'],
+        False,
+        install_deps = False,
+    )
+)
+installs = [rpm_args(cmd) for cmd in cl.cmds if '-U' in cmd]
+assert installs == [
+    ['/usr/bin/rpm', '-U', '/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-41.x86_64.rpm'],
+    [
+        '/usr/bin/rpm',
+        '-U',
+        '--reinstall',
+        '/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-42.x86_64.rpm',
+    ],
+]
+
+# -- A single file whose version is already installed is reinstalled
+cl = DispatchLocal(
+    files = {'/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-42.x86_64.rpm': 'jw-base\t1.0.0-42'},
+    installed = {'jw-base': 'jw-base|||||1.0.0-42\n'},
+)
+d = RedhatDistro(cl, id = 'redhat')
+asyncio.run(
+    d._install_local_files(
+        ['/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-42.x86_64.rpm'], False, install_deps = False
+    )
+)
+assert rpm_args(cl.cmds[-1]) == [
+    '/usr/bin/rpm',
+    '-U',
+    '--reinstall',
+    '/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-42.x86_64.rpm',
+]
+
+# -- only_update raises on files whose package is not installed
+cl = DispatchLocal(
+    files = {
+        '/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-42.x86_64.rpm': 'jw-base\t1.0.0-42',
+        '/a/jw-foo-run-1.0.0-42.x86_64.rpm': 'jw-foo\t1.0.0-42',
+    },
+    installed = {'jw-base': 'jw-base|||||1.0.0-42\n'},
+)
+d = RedhatDistro(cl, id = 'redhat')
+try:
+    asyncio.run(
+        d._install_local_files(
+            ['/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-42.x86_64.rpm', '/a/jw-foo-run-1.0.0-42.x86_64.rpm'],
+            True,
+            install_deps = False,
+        )
+    )
+except Exception as e:
+    assert '/a/jw-foo-run-1.0.0-42.x86_64.rpm' in str(e)
+else:
+    raise AssertionError('expected an exception')
+assert not [cmd for cmd in cl.cmds if '-U' in cmd]
+
+# -- deps routes local files through the package manager
+cl = DispatchLocal(
+    files = {'/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-42.x86_64.rpm': 'jw-base\t1.0.0-42'},
+    installed = {'jw-base': 'jw-base|||||1.0.0-42\n'},
+)
+d = RedhatDistro(cl, id = 'redhat')
+asyncio.run(
+    d._install_local_files(
+        ['/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-42.x86_64.rpm'], False, install_deps = True
+    )
+)
+pm_cmds = [cmd for cmd in cl.cmds if '/usr/bin/yum' in cmd]
+assert len(pm_cmds) == 1
+args = pm_cmds[0][pm_cmds[0].index('/usr/bin/yum'):]
+assert 'install' in args
+assert args[-1] == '/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-42.x86_64.rpm'
+assert not [cmd for cmd in cl.cmds if '-U' in cmd]
+
+print('All redhat distro tests passed')
diff --git a/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/distros/suse/Makefile b/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/distros/suse/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4801122b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/distros/suse/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+TOPDIR = ../../../../../../../..
+
+include $(TOPDIR)/make/proj.mk
+include $(JWBDIR)/make/py-run.mk
+
+all:
+test: run
diff --git a/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/distros/suse/test.py b/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/distros/suse/test.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ca95cc5f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/distros/suse/test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import asyncio
+
+from typing import override
+
+from jw.pkg.lib.distros.suse.Distro import Distro as SuseDistro
+from jw.pkg.lib.ec.Local import Local
+from jw.pkg.lib.Result import Result
+
+class DispatchLocal(Local):
+    """A canned execution context that answers rpm queries"""
+
+    def __init__(self, files: dict[str, str], installed: dict[str, str]) -> None:
+        super().__init__('local')
+        self.files = files
+        self.installed = installed
+        self.cmds: list[list[str]] = []
+
+    @override
+    async def _run(
+        self,
+        cmd: list[str],
+        wd: str | None,
+        verbose: bool,
+        cmd_input: bytes | None,
+        mod_env: dict[str, str] | None,
+        interactive: bool,
+        log_prefix: str,
+    ) -> Result:
+        self.cmds.append(cmd)
+        if '-qp' in cmd:
+            return Result(stdout = self.files.get(cmd[-1], '').encode(), status = 0)
+        if '-q' in cmd:
+            name = cmd[-1]
+            return Result(
+                stdout = self.installed.get(name, '').encode(),
+                status = 0 if name in self.installed else 1,
+            )
+        return Result(stdout = b'', status = 0)
+
+def rpm_args(cmd: list[str]) -> list[str]:
+    """The rpm command without the sudo prefix and its options"""
+    return cmd[cmd.index('/usr/bin/rpm'):]
+
+# -- A mixed transaction runs two installs, the upgrades first: the
+# distro installs local files with force, which keeps the reinstall
+# semantics for already-installed versions
+cl = DispatchLocal(
+    files = {
+        '/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-42.x86_64.rpm': 'jw-base\t1.0.0-42',
+        '/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-41.x86_64.rpm': 'jw-base\t1.0.0-41',
+    },
+    installed = {'jw-base': 'jw-base|||||1.0.0-42\n'},
+)
+d = SuseDistro(cl, id = 'suse')
+asyncio.run(
+    d._install_local_files(
+        ['/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-42.x86_64.rpm', '/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-41.x86_64.rpm'],
+        False,
+        install_deps = False,
+    )
+)
+installs = [rpm_args(cmd) for cmd in cl.cmds if '-U' in cmd]
+assert installs == [
+    ['/usr/bin/rpm', '-U', '/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-41.x86_64.rpm'],
+    [
+        '/usr/bin/rpm',
+        '-U',
+        '--reinstall',
+        '/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-42.x86_64.rpm',
+    ],
+]
+
+# -- A single file whose version is already installed is reinstalled
+cl = DispatchLocal(
+    files = {'/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-42.x86_64.rpm': 'jw-base\t1.0.0-42'},
+    installed = {'jw-base': 'jw-base|||||1.0.0-42\n'},
+)
+d = SuseDistro(cl, id = 'suse')
+asyncio.run(
+    d._install_local_files(
+        ['/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-42.x86_64.rpm'], False, install_deps = False
+    )
+)
+assert rpm_args(cl.cmds[-1]) == [
+    '/usr/bin/rpm',
+    '-U',
+    '--reinstall',
+    '/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-42.x86_64.rpm',
+]
+
+# -- only_update raises on files whose package is not installed
+cl = DispatchLocal(
+    files = {
+        '/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-42.x86_64.rpm': 'jw-base\t1.0.0-42',
+        '/a/jw-foo-run-1.0.0-42.x86_64.rpm': 'jw-foo\t1.0.0-42',
+    },
+    installed = {'jw-base': 'jw-base|||||1.0.0-42\n'},
+)
+d = SuseDistro(cl, id = 'suse')
+try:
+    asyncio.run(
+        d._install_local_files(
+            ['/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-42.x86_64.rpm', '/a/jw-foo-run-1.0.0-42.x86_64.rpm'],
+            True,
+            install_deps = False,
+        )
+    )
+except Exception as e:
+    assert '/a/jw-foo-run-1.0.0-42.x86_64.rpm' in str(e)
+else:
+    raise AssertionError('expected an exception')
+assert not [cmd for cmd in cl.cmds if '-U' in cmd]
+
+# -- deps routes local files through the package manager
+cl = DispatchLocal(
+    files = {'/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-42.x86_64.rpm': 'jw-base\t1.0.0-42'},
+    installed = {'jw-base': 'jw-base|||||1.0.0-42\n'},
+)
+d = SuseDistro(cl, id = 'suse')
+asyncio.run(
+    d._install_local_files(
+        ['/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-42.x86_64.rpm'], False, install_deps = True
+    )
+)
+pm_cmds = [cmd for cmd in cl.cmds if '/usr/bin/zypper' in cmd]
+assert len(pm_cmds) == 1
+args = pm_cmds[0][pm_cmds[0].index('/usr/bin/zypper'):]
+assert 'install' in args
+assert args[-1] == '/a/jw-base-run-1.0.0-42.x86_64.rpm'
+assert not [cmd for cmd in cl.cmds if '-U' in cmd]
+
+print('All suse distro tests passed')