diff --git a/data/meson.build b/data/meson.build
index 412fbda501..cd02d0e266 100644
--- a/data/meson.build
+++ b/data/meson.build
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ appdata_file = i18n_mod.merge_file(
 appstream_util = find_program('appstream-util', required: false)
 if appstream_util.found()
   test('Validate appstream file', appstream_util,
-    args: ['validate-relax', appdata_file]
+    args: ['validate-relax', '--nonet', appdata_file]
   )
 endif
 
diff --git a/debian/control b/debian/control
index e1d54b6433..2166e8fd8f 100644
--- a/debian/control
+++ b/debian/control
@@ -24,7 +24,8 @@ Build-Depends: debhelper (>=11),
                libsamplerate0-dev,
                itstool,
                libebur128-dev,
-               appstream-util
+               appstream-util,
+               desktop-file-utils
 
 Package: pulseeffects
 Architecture: any