diff --git a/Help/release/dev/cpack-deb-imporvements.rst b/Help/release/dev/cpack-deb-imporvements.rst
index 4fd35b898..9e45aa546 100644
--- a/Help/release/dev/cpack-deb-imporvements.rst
+++ b/Help/release/dev/cpack-deb-imporvements.rst
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@ cpack-deb-imporvements
 * The :module:`CPackDeb` module learned how to generate dependencies between
   Debian packages if multi-component setup is used and
   :variable:`CPACK_COMPONENT_<compName>_DEPENDS` variables are set.
-  This breaks compatibility with previous versions.
+  For backward compatibility this feature is disabled by default. See
+  :variable:`CPACK_DEBIAN_ENABLE_COMPONENT_DEPENDS`.
 
 * The :module:`CPackDeb` module learned how to set the package release number
   (``DebianRevisionNumber`` in package file name).  See
diff --git a/Modules/CPackDeb.cmake b/Modules/CPackDeb.cmake
index d93d924a8..70bf81dd2 100644
--- a/Modules/CPackDeb.cmake
+++ b/Modules/CPackDeb.cmake
@@ -100,6 +100,13 @@
 #
 #    set(CPACK_DEBIAN_PACKAGE_DEPENDS "libc6 (>= 2.3.1-6), libc6 (< 2.4)")
 #
+# .. variable:: CPACK_DEBIAN_ENABLE_COMPONENT_DEPENDS
+#
+#  Sets inter component dependencies if listed with
+#  :variable:`CPACK_COMPONENT_<compName>_DEPENDS` variables.
+#
+#  * Mandatory : NO
+#  * Default   : -
 #
 # .. variable:: CPACK_DEBIAN_PACKAGE_MAINTAINER
 #
@@ -713,20 +720,23 @@ function(cpack_deb_prepare_package_vars)
         endif()
       endif()
     endforeach()
-    set(COMPONENT_DEPENDS "")
-    foreach (_PACK ${CPACK_COMPONENT_${_local_component_name}_DEPENDS})
-      get_component_package_name(_PACK_NAME "${_PACK}")
+
+    if(CPACK_DEBIAN_ENABLE_COMPONENT_DEPENDS)
+      set(COMPONENT_DEPENDS "")
+      foreach (_PACK ${CPACK_COMPONENT_${_local_component_name}_DEPENDS})
+        get_component_package_name(_PACK_NAME "${_PACK}")
+        if(COMPONENT_DEPENDS)
+          set(COMPONENT_DEPENDS "${_PACK_NAME} (= ${CPACK_DEBIAN_PACKAGE_VERSION}), ${COMPONENT_DEPENDS}")
+        else()
+          set(COMPONENT_DEPENDS "${_PACK_NAME} (= ${CPACK_DEBIAN_PACKAGE_VERSION})")
+        endif()
+      endforeach()
       if(COMPONENT_DEPENDS)
-        set(COMPONENT_DEPENDS "${_PACK_NAME} (= ${CPACK_DEBIAN_PACKAGE_VERSION}), ${COMPONENT_DEPENDS}")
-      else()
-        set(COMPONENT_DEPENDS "${_PACK_NAME} (= ${CPACK_DEBIAN_PACKAGE_VERSION})")
-      endif()
-    endforeach()
-    if(COMPONENT_DEPENDS)
-      if(CPACK_DEBIAN_PACKAGE_DEPENDS)
-        set(CPACK_DEBIAN_PACKAGE_DEPENDS "${COMPONENT_DEPENDS}, ${CPACK_DEBIAN_PACKAGE_DEPENDS}")
-      else()
-        set(CPACK_DEBIAN_PACKAGE_DEPENDS "${COMPONENT_DEPENDS}")
+        if(CPACK_DEBIAN_PACKAGE_DEPENDS)
+          set(CPACK_DEBIAN_PACKAGE_DEPENDS "${COMPONENT_DEPENDS}, ${CPACK_DEBIAN_PACKAGE_DEPENDS}")
+        else()
+          set(CPACK_DEBIAN_PACKAGE_DEPENDS "${COMPONENT_DEPENDS}")
+        endif()
       endif()
     endif()
   endif()
diff --git a/Tests/CPackComponentsDEB/MyLibCPackConfig-components-depend1.cmake.in b/Tests/CPackComponentsDEB/MyLibCPackConfig-components-depend1.cmake.in
index d207bcc12..dc038fa4c 100644
--- a/Tests/CPackComponentsDEB/MyLibCPackConfig-components-depend1.cmake.in
+++ b/Tests/CPackComponentsDEB/MyLibCPackConfig-components-depend1.cmake.in
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 if(CPACK_GENERATOR MATCHES "DEB")
    set(CPACK_DEB_COMPONENT_INSTALL "ON")
+   set(CPACK_DEBIAN_ENABLE_COMPONENT_DEPENDS "ON")
 endif()
 
 #
diff --git a/Tests/CPackComponentsDEB/MyLibCPackConfig-components-depend2.cmake.in b/Tests/CPackComponentsDEB/MyLibCPackConfig-components-depend2.cmake.in
index 803720a3c..1aa7d0199 100644
--- a/Tests/CPackComponentsDEB/MyLibCPackConfig-components-depend2.cmake.in
+++ b/Tests/CPackComponentsDEB/MyLibCPackConfig-components-depend2.cmake.in
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 if(CPACK_GENERATOR MATCHES "DEB")
    set(CPACK_DEB_COMPONENT_INSTALL "ON")
+   set(CPACK_DEBIAN_ENABLE_COMPONENT_DEPENDS "ON")
 endif()
 
 #