diff --git a/src/install.js b/src/install.js
index fba1e18..bf84f5b 100644
--- a/src/install.js
+++ b/src/install.js
@@ -4,6 +4,24 @@ const fs = require("fs");
 const { installOnePackage } = require('./install-utils');
 const { create_mount_folder_init_webr } = require('./config-utils.js');
 
+const append_package_json = function (package_to_add){
+  const package_json_path = process.cwd() + "/package.json";
+  // append package.json with package_to_install
+  if (fs.existsSync(package_json_path)) {
+    const package_json = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(package_json_path));
+
+    if (!package_json.rdependencies) {
+      package_json.rdependencies = [];
+    }
+
+    package_json.rdependencies.push(package_to_add);
+    package_json.rdependencies = [...new Set(package_json.rdependencies)]
+    fs.writeFileSync(package_json_path, JSON.stringify(package_json, null, 2));
+  } else {
+    console.log("❗️ No package.json file found");
+  }
+}
+
 const installIt = async function (
   package_to_install,
   destination_folder
@@ -44,6 +62,8 @@ const installIt = async function (
     )
   }
 
+  append_package_json(package_to_install)
+
   await webR.close();
 
   return true
@@ -53,7 +73,7 @@ const installFromDesc = async function (
   description_file,
   destination_folder,
   with_exit = true
-){
+) {
 
   const webR = new WebR();