diff --git a/tools/Packages-gen b/tools/Packages-gen
index 7fc9f120..dcd7387a 100755
--- a/tools/Packages-gen
+++ b/tools/Packages-gen
@@ -33,7 +33,10 @@ else
 fi
 [ -d $repo ] || mkdir -p $repo
 echo Creating Packages file for $repo...
-apt-ftparchive packages $repo > $repo/Packages
+# Important: generate both uncompressed Packages (see below) and compressed
+# Packages.gz (so that the usual Packages.gz/Packages.xz search finds it)!
+apt-ftparchive packages $repo | pigz -9nm > $repo/Packages.gz
+zcat $repo/Packages.gz > $repo/Packages
 
 # Fun fact, at least when building bookworm images on bullseye:
 #  - a missing Release file is fine, but maybe downloads follow;