diff --git a/meta/lib/oe/rootfs.py b/meta/lib/oe/rootfs.py
index aac93dc42e..a28c888070 100644
--- a/meta/lib/oe/rootfs.py
+++ b/meta/lib/oe/rootfs.py
@@ -165,12 +165,14 @@ class Rootfs(object, metaclass=ABCMeta):
         """
         Install additional debug packages. Possibility to install additional packages,
         which are not automatically installed as complementary package of
-        standard one, e.g. debug package of static libraries.
+        standard one, e.g. debug package of static libraries. They are asked
+        for by name, so like IMAGE_INSTALL, it is an error if they can't be
+        installed.
         """
         extra_debug_pkgs = self.d.getVar('IMAGE_INSTALL_DEBUGFS')
         if extra_debug_pkgs:
             bb.note("  Install extra debug packages...")
-            self.pm.install(extra_debug_pkgs.split(), True)
+            self.pm.install(extra_debug_pkgs.split())
 
         bb.utils.remove(intercepts_dir, True)
         bb.utils.rename(intercepts_dir + '-orig', intercepts_dir)