diff --git a/debian/bin/gencontrol.py b/debian/bin/gencontrol.py
index 7361f22c2..70be65d1f 100755
--- a/debian/bin/gencontrol.py
+++ b/debian/bin/gencontrol.py
@@ -136,7 +136,10 @@ class Gencontrol(Base):
                      ["$(MAKE) -f debian/rules.real install-libc-dev_%s %s" %
                       (arch, makeflags)])
 
-        if os.getenv('DEBIAN_KERNEL_DISABLE_INSTALLER'):
+        if self.version.linux_revision_backports:
+            # Installer is not (currently) built from backports
+            pass
+        elif os.getenv('DEBIAN_KERNEL_DISABLE_INSTALLER'):
             if self.changelog[0].distribution == 'UNRELEASED':
                 import warnings
                 warnings.warn(u'Disable installer modules on request (DEBIAN_KERNEL_DISABLE_INSTALLER set)')
@@ -421,13 +424,18 @@ class Gencontrol(Base):
         distribution = self.changelog[0].distribution
         if distribution in ('unstable', ):
             if (version.linux_revision_experimental or
-                    version.linux_revision_other):
+                version.linux_revision_backports or
+                version.linux_revision_other):
                 raise RuntimeError("Can't upload to %s with a version of %s" %
                         (distribution, version))
         if distribution in ('experimental', ):
             if not version.linux_revision_experimental:
                 raise RuntimeError("Can't upload to %s with a version of %s" %
                         (distribution, version))
+        if distribution.endswith('-backports'):
+            if not version.linux_revision_backports:
+                raise RuntimeError("Can't upload to %s with a version of %s" %
+                        (distribution, version))
 
     def process_real_image(self, entry, fields, vars):
         entry = self.process_package(entry, vars)
diff --git a/debian/lib/python/debian_linux/debian.py b/debian/lib/python/debian_linux/debian.py
index 3950af9a1..120f2e4b8 100644
--- a/debian/lib/python/debian_linux/debian.py
+++ b/debian/lib/python/debian_linux/debian.py
@@ -136,6 +136,10 @@ class VersionLinux(Version):
         ~exp\d+
     )
     |
+    (?P<revision_backports>
+        ~bpo\d\d\+\d+
+    )
+    |
     (?P<revision_other>
         [^-]+
     )
@@ -160,6 +164,7 @@ $
         self.linux_upstream_full = self.linux_upstream + (d['update'] or u'')
         self.linux_dfsg = d['dfsg']
         self.linux_revision_experimental = match.group('revision_experimental') and True
+        self.linux_revision_backports = match.group('revision_backports') and True
         self.linux_revision_other = match.group('revision_other') and True