diff --git a/image/utilities.sh b/image/utilities.sh
index ea302f88..07776976 100755
--- a/image/utilities.sh
+++ b/image/utilities.sh
@@ -10,3 +10,6 @@ run minimal_apt_get_install git
 run minimal_apt_get_install netbase
 ## utilities needed to add apt ppas
 run minimal_apt_get_install curl gnupg ca-certificates
+## almost everyone needs file, and it sort of randomly gets pulled in during
+## the build process anyway
+run minimal_apt_get_install file