diff --git a/debian/install-packages b/debian/install-packages
index ace2e16..c84a927 100755
--- a/debian/install-packages
+++ b/debian/install-packages
@@ -19,6 +19,10 @@ sudo mkdir -p /etc/apt/keyrings
 curl -fsSL https://repo.charm.sh/apt/gpg.key | sudo gpg --yes --dearmor -o /etc/apt/keyrings/charm.gpg
 echo "deb [signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/charm.gpg] https://repo.charm.sh/apt/ * *" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/charm.list
 
+# Use the Readline debconf frontend so package prompts (e.g. service restarts
+# during upgrades) render as plain text instead of an unreadable whiptail dialog
+echo "debconf debconf/frontend select Readline" | sudo debconf-set-selections
+
 # Update package repos
 sudo apt-get update
 
diff --git a/pop_os/install-packages b/pop_os/install-packages
index 5da255f..0565733 100755
--- a/pop_os/install-packages
+++ b/pop_os/install-packages
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@ sudo add-apt-repository -y universe
 # Add Neovim PPA
 sudo add-apt-repository ppa:neovim-ppa/unstable -y
 
+# Use the Readline debconf frontend so package prompts (e.g. service restarts
+# during upgrades) render as plain text instead of an unreadable whiptail dialog
+echo "debconf debconf/frontend select Readline" | sudo debconf-set-selections
+
 # Update package repos
 sudo apt-get update
 
diff --git a/ubuntu/install-essential-packages b/ubuntu/install-essential-packages
index f7e0b70..a57bcc3 100755
--- a/ubuntu/install-essential-packages
+++ b/ubuntu/install-essential-packages
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 # source <(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mapitman/linux-bootstrap/main/ubuntu/install-essential-packages)
 
+# Use the Readline debconf frontend so package prompts (e.g. service restarts
+# during upgrades) render as plain text instead of an unreadable whiptail dialog
+echo "debconf debconf/frontend select Readline" | sudo debconf-set-selections
+
 # Update package repos
 sudo apt-get update