diff --git a/roles/base/defaults/main.yml b/roles/base/defaults/main.yml
index 825c01c..a9156cb 100644
--- a/roles/base/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/base/defaults/main.yml
@@ -1,3 +1,10 @@
 manage_network: false
 network_type: static
 allow_reboot: true
+
+packages:
+  - htop
+  - kpartx
+  - screen
+  - vim
+  - wget
diff --git a/roles/base/tasks/system.yml b/roles/base/tasks/system.yml
index 15ae03e..d1eeb88 100644
--- a/roles/base/tasks/system.yml
+++ b/roles/base/tasks/system.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 - name: Install useful software
   apt:
-    name: ["vim", "wget"]
+    name: "{{ packages }}"
     state: present
 
 - name: Manage root authorized_keys