diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index f5183e5..5a90c01 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ base__add_ethz: true
 # add nonfree/firmware packages?
 base__pkg_non_free_firmware: true
 base__pkg_contrib: true
+base__pkg_backports: false
 
 # add security repo
 base__pkg_security: true
diff --git a/templates/apt.sources.list.j2 b/templates/apt.sources.list.j2
index a2a6a3d..c877aff 100644
--- a/templates/apt.sources.list.j2
+++ b/templates/apt.sources.list.j2
@@ -60,6 +60,26 @@ deb-src https://debian.ethz.ch/debian {{ ansible_distribution_release }}-updates
   {{- '\n\n' -}}
 {%- endif -%}
 
+{%- if base__pkg_backports -%}
+# {{ ansible_distribution_release }}-backports
+deb https://debian.ethz.ch/debian {{ ansible_distribution_release }}-backports main
+  {%- if base__pkg_contrib | bool -%}
+    {{- ' contrib' -}}
+  {%- endif -%}
+  {%- if base__pkg_non_free_firmware | bool -%}
+    {{- ' non-free' -}}
+  {%- endif -%}
+  {{- '\n' -}}
+deb-src https://debian.ethz.ch/debian {{ ansible_distribution_release }}-backports main
+  {%- if base__pkg_contrib | bool -%}
+    {{- ' contrib' -}}
+  {%- endif -%}
+  {%- if base__pkg_non_free_firmware | bool -%}
+    {{- ' non-free' -}}
+  {%- endif -%}
+  {{- '\n\n' -}}
+{%- endif -%}
+
 # Contact for proplems with the mirror:
 # https://readme.phys.ethz.ch/services/contact/
 # Or #isgphys on irc.phys.ethz.ch
diff --git a/templates/apt.sources.list_legacy.j2 b/templates/apt.sources.list_legacy.j2
index 4d394a7..3c7090f 100644
--- a/templates/apt.sources.list_legacy.j2
+++ b/templates/apt.sources.list_legacy.j2
@@ -59,6 +59,26 @@ deb-src https://debian.ethz.ch/debian {{ ansible_distribution_release }}-updates
   {{- '\n\n' -}}
 {%- endif -%}
 
+{%- if base__pkg_backports -%}
+# {{ ansible_distribution_release }}-backports
+deb https://debian.ethz.ch/debian {{ ansible_distribution_release }}-backports main
+  {%- if base__pkg_contrib | bool -%}
+    {{- ' contrib' -}}
+  {%- endif -%}
+  {%- if base__pkg_non_free_firmware | bool -%}
+    {{- ' non-free' -}}
+  {%- endif -%}
+  {{- '\n' -}}
+deb-src https://debian.ethz.ch/debian {{ ansible_distribution_release }}-backports main
+  {%- if base__pkg_contrib | bool -%}
+    {{- ' contrib' -}}
+  {%- endif -%}
+  {%- if base__pkg_non_free_firmware | bool -%}
+    {{- ' non-free' -}}
+  {%- endif -%}
+  {{- '\n\n' -}}
+{%- endif -%}
+
 # Contact for proplems with the mirror:
 # https://readme.phys.ethz.ch/services/contact/
 # Or #isgphys on irc.phys.ethz.ch