diff --git a/manifests/backup/nfs.pp b/manifests/backup/nfs.pp
index 90b32f91..09cc245a 100644
--- a/manifests/backup/nfs.pp
+++ b/manifests/backup/nfs.pp
@@ -47,6 +47,9 @@
 #   (optional) Compression algorithm to use when writing backup data.
 #   Defaults to $facts['os_service_default']
 #
+# [*package_ensure*]
+#   (optional) Ensure state for package. Defaults to 'present'.
+#
 # === Author(s)
 #
 # Ryan Hefner <ryan.hefner@netapp.com>
@@ -78,9 +81,11 @@ class cinder::backup::nfs (
   $backup_mount_options         = $facts['os_service_default'],
   $backup_container             = $facts['os_service_default'],
   $backup_compression_algorithm = $facts['os_service_default'],
+  $package_ensure               = 'present',
 ) {
 
   include cinder::deps
+  include cinder::params
 
   cinder_config {
     'DEFAULT/backup_mount_options':         value => $backup_mount_options;
@@ -94,4 +99,9 @@ class cinder::backup::nfs (
     'DEFAULT/backup_compression_algorithm': value => $backup_compression_algorithm;
   }
 
+  ensure_packages('nfs-client', {
+    name   => $::cinder::params::nfs_client_package_name,
+    ensure => $package_ensure,
+  })
+  Package<| title == 'nfs-client' |> { tag +> 'cinder-support-package' }
 }
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/backup-nfs-client-e95c8d1051fe1d10.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/backup-nfs-client-e95c8d1051fe1d10.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c306bfcb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/backup-nfs-client-e95c8d1051fe1d10.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+features:
+  - |
+    The ``cinder::backup::nfs`` class now ensures that the nfs client package
+    is installed. The new ``package_ensure`` parameter has been added so that
+    the package state can be customized.
+
diff --git a/spec/classes/cinder_backup_nfs_spec.rb b/spec/classes/cinder_backup_nfs_spec.rb
index 20738e15..03d716d1 100644
--- a/spec/classes/cinder_backup_nfs_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/classes/cinder_backup_nfs_spec.rb
@@ -52,6 +52,13 @@ describe 'cinder::backup::nfs' do
       end
     end
 
+    it 'installs nfs client' do
+      is_expected.to contain_package('nfs-client').with(
+        :name   => platform_params[:nfs_client_package_name],
+        :ensure => 'installed',
+      )
+    end
+
     context 'with optional parameters' do
       let (:all_params) { params.merge!({
         :backup_mount_options => 'sec=sys',
@@ -73,6 +80,15 @@ describe 'cinder::backup::nfs' do
         facts.merge(OSDefaults.get_facts())
       end
 
+      let :platform_params do
+        case facts[:os]['family']
+        when 'Debian'
+          { :nfs_client_package_name => 'nfs-common' }
+        when 'RedHat'
+          { :nfs_client_package_name => 'nfs-utils' }
+        end
+      end
+
       it_behaves_like 'cinder backup with nfs'
     end
   end