diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 70c74c35..20d0d1de 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -39,6 +39,10 @@ shadow (1:4.1.1~rc1-1) UNRELEASED; urgency=low
   * debian/rules, debian/control: login (>= 970502-1) was already provided
     by login in Hamm. libpam-modules (>= 0.72-5) was already provided by
     libpam-modules in Potato. Simplify the dependencies.
+  * debian/control: Move the dependency on libpam-modules from Depends to
+    Pre-Depends. The login package is Essential, and without libpam-modules,
+    login or su are not functional. Thanks to Steve Langasek for pointing this
+    out.
 
  -- Nicolas FRANCOIS (Nekral) <nicolas.francois@centraliens.net>  Sun, 24 Feb 2008 18:33:31 +0100
 
diff --git a/debian/control b/debian/control
index bb8be6ff..464775db 100644
--- a/debian/control
+++ b/debian/control
@@ -21,8 +21,7 @@ Description: change and administer password and group data
 
 Package: login
 Architecture: any
-Pre-Depends: ${shlibs:Depends}, libpam-runtime (>= 0.76-14)
-Depends: libpam-modules
+Pre-Depends: ${shlibs:Depends}, libpam-runtime (>= 0.76-14), libpam-modules
 Conflicts: gnunet (<< 0.7.0c-2), amavisd-new (<<2.3.3-8), python-4suite (<< 0.99cvs20060405-1), backupninja (<< 0.9.3-5), echolot (<< 2.1.8-4)
 Replaces: manpages-fi (<< 0.2-4), manpages-fr (<<1.64.0-1), manpages-hu (<< 20010119-5), manpages-it (<< 0.3.4-2), manpages-ko (<< 20050219-2), manpages-ja (<< 0.5.0.0.20050915-1), manpages-de, manpages-es-extra (<<0.8a-15), manpages-tr, manpages-zh
 Essential: yes