diff --git a/recipes/default.rb b/recipes/default.rb
index 73f5df1..c93166d 100644
--- a/recipes/default.rb
+++ b/recipes/default.rb
@@ -22,9 +22,18 @@
 # Install MongoDB package
 install_package = %w(mongodb-org-server mongodb-org-shell mongodb-org-tools)
 
+case node['platform_family']
+    when 'debian'
+      # bypass dpkg errors about pre-existing init or conf file
+      packager_opts = '-o Dpkg::Options::="--force-confold" --force-yes'
+    else
+      packager_opts = ''
+end
+
 install_package.each do |pkg|
   package pkg do
     version node['mongodb3']['package']['version']
+    options packager_opts
     action :install
   end
 end