diff --git a/debian/libmariadb3.install b/debian/libmariadb3.install
index 1cb8681244e..d1812759d89 100644
--- a/debian/libmariadb3.install
+++ b/debian/libmariadb3.install
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 usr/lib/mariadb/libmariadb.so.*
+usr/lib/*/libmariadbclient.so.*
 usr/lib/mysql/plugin/dialog.so
 usr/lib/mysql/plugin/mysql_clear_password.so
diff --git a/debian/rules b/debian/rules
index f85dcdeccfc..3ab308b8d73 100755
--- a/debian/rules
+++ b/debian/rules
@@ -157,6 +157,9 @@ override_dh_auto_install:
 	# install Apport hook
 	install -D -m 644 debian/mariadb-server-10.2.py $(TMP)/usr/share/apport/package-hooks/source_mariadb-10.2.py
 
+	# Install libmariadbclient18 compatibility links
+	ln -s /usr/lib/$(DEB_HOST_MULTIARCH)/libmariadb.so.3 $(TMP)/usr/lib/$(DEB_HOST_MULTIARCH)/libmariadbclient.so.18
+
 	touch $@
 
 override_dh_installlogrotate-arch: