diff --git a/debian/bin/gencontrol.py b/debian/bin/gencontrol.py
index 5d00d4020..28b5694cf 100755
--- a/debian/bin/gencontrol.py
+++ b/debian/bin/gencontrol.py
@@ -141,6 +141,9 @@ class gencontrol(debian_linux.gencontrol.gencontrol):
         else:
             image = image_type_modulesinline
 
+        if not vars.has_key('desc'):
+            vars['desc'] = None
+
         packages_own.append(self.process_real_image(image[0], {'depends': image_depends}, config_entry_relations, vars))
         packages_own.extend(self.process_packages(image[1:], vars))
 
@@ -223,8 +226,6 @@ class gencontrol(debian_linux.gencontrol.gencontrol):
 
     def process_real_image(self, in_entry, relations, config, vars):
         entry = self.process_package(in_entry, vars)
-        if vars.has_key('desc'):
-            entry['Description'].long[1:1] = [vars['desc']]
         for field in 'Depends', 'Provides', 'Suggests', 'Recommends', 'Conflicts':
             value = entry.get(field, package_relation_list())
             t = vars.get(field.lower(), [])
diff --git a/debian/templates/control.image.type-modulesextra.in b/debian/templates/control.image.type-modulesextra.in
index e3afc5008..a6e726b83 100644
--- a/debian/templates/control.image.type-modulesextra.in
+++ b/debian/templates/control.image.type-modulesextra.in
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ Suggests: linux-doc-@version@
 Description: Linux @upstreamversion@ image on @class@
  This package provides the binary image for
  Linux kernel @upstreamversion@ on @longclass@ machines.
+ .
+ @desc@
 
 Package: linux-modules-@upstreamversion@@abiname@@localversion@
 Section: admin
diff --git a/debian/templates/control.image.type-modulesinline.in b/debian/templates/control.image.type-modulesinline.in
index 4bd607533..baef285ab 100644
--- a/debian/templates/control.image.type-modulesinline.in
+++ b/debian/templates/control.image.type-modulesinline.in
@@ -7,3 +7,5 @@ Suggests: linux-doc-@version@
 Description: Linux @upstreamversion@ image on @class@
  This package provides the binary image and pre-built loadable modules for
  Linux kernel @upstreamversion@ on @longclass@ machines.
+ .
+ @desc@
diff --git a/debian/templates/control.image.type-standalone.in b/debian/templates/control.image.type-standalone.in
index ac33b42db..a01292323 100644
--- a/debian/templates/control.image.type-standalone.in
+++ b/debian/templates/control.image.type-standalone.in
@@ -6,3 +6,5 @@ Suggests: linux-doc-@version@
 Description: Linux @upstreamversion@ image on @class@
  This package provides the binary image for
  Linux kernel @upstreamversion@ on @longclass@ machines.
+ .
+ @desc@