diff --git a/packaging/debian/rules b/packaging/debian/rules
index 130451a1ea..792a74b664 100755
--- a/packaging/debian/rules
+++ b/packaging/debian/rules
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ DEB_PYTHON2_MODULE_PACKAGES=ansible
 include /usr/share/cdbs/1/rules/debhelper.mk
 include /usr/share/cdbs/1/class/python-distutils.mk
 
+ifeq ($(shell lsb_release -cs), precise)
+  export ANSIBLE_CRYPTO_BACKEND = pycrypto
+endif
 ifeq ($(shell lsb_release -cs), trusty)
   export ANSIBLE_CRYPTO_BACKEND = pycrypto
 endif