diff --git a/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/pkgbase.in b/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/pkgbase.in
--- a/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/pkgbase.in
+++ b/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/pkgbase.in
@@ -103,7 +103,8 @@
 	for component, _ in pairs(components) do
 		-- Decide which sets we want to offer to the user:
 		--
-		-- "minimal" is not offered since it's always included.
+		-- "minimal" is not offered since it's always included, as is
+		-- "pkg" if it's present.
 		--
 		-- "-dbg" sets are never offered, because those are handled
 		-- via the "debug" component.
@@ -113,7 +114,8 @@
 		--
 		-- Sets whose name ends in "-jail" are intended for jails, and
 		-- are only offered if no_kernel is set.
-		if not component:match("^minimal") and
+		if component ~= "pkg" and
+		   not component:match("^minimal") and
 		   not component:match("%-dbg$") and
 		   not (component == "kernels") and
 		   not (not options.no_kernel and component:match("%-jail$")) then
@@ -161,6 +163,13 @@
 	-- autoremove then trying to remove minimal.
 	local selected = {"minimal"}
 
+	-- If pkg is available, always install it so the user can manage the
+	-- installed system.  This is optional, because a repository built
+	-- from src alone won't have a pkg package.
+	if components["pkg"] then
+		table.insert(selected, "pkg")
+	end
+
 	if not options.no_kernel then
 		table.insert(selected, "kernel")
 	end
@@ -203,6 +212,9 @@
 			table.insert(components["kernel"], package)
 		elseif kernel_packages[package:match("(.*)%-dbg$")] then
 			table.insert(components["kernel-dbg"], package)
+		elseif package == "pkg" then
+			components["pkg"] = components["pkg"] or {}
+			table.insert(components["pkg"], package)
 		end
 	end