diff --git a/xbps-src/shutils/metadata.sh b/xbps-src/shutils/metadata.sh
index ef0bb0baca..abbfa9ed9a 100644
--- a/xbps-src/shutils/metadata.sh
+++ b/xbps-src/shutils/metadata.sh
@@ -289,6 +289,12 @@ _EOF
 		echo "<true/>" >> $TMPFPROPS
 	fi
 
+	# pkg needs to preserve its files after removal/upgrade?
+	if [ -n "$preserve" ]; then
+		echo "<key>preserve</key>" >> $TMPFPROPS
+		echo "<true/>" >> $TMPFPROPS
+	fi
+
 	# Dependencies
 	if [ -n "$run_depends" ]; then
 		echo "<key>run_depends</key>" >> $TMPFPROPS
diff --git a/xbps-src/shutils/tmpl_funcs.sh b/xbps-src/shutils/tmpl_funcs.sh
index dec0aefff1..b21c2a0ad3 100644
--- a/xbps-src/shutils/tmpl_funcs.sh
+++ b/xbps-src/shutils/tmpl_funcs.sh
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ reset_tmpl_vars()
 			post_configure post_build post_install nostrip \
 			make_install_target version revision essential \
 			sgml_catalogs xml_catalogs xml_entries sgml_entries \
-			disable_parallel_build run_depends font_dirs \
+			disable_parallel_build run_depends font_dirs preserve \
 			only_for_archs conf_files keep_libtool_archives \
 			noarch subpackages sourcepkg gtk_iconcache_dirs \
 			abi_depends api_depends triggers openrc_services \