diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index cacc0e5..bef518f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ RUN chmod uga+x /usr/local/bin/install-php-extensions && sync && \
 ```
 
 `install-php-extensions` will install all the required APT packages.  
-If you want to remove the APT development packages (which shouldn't be needed after the PHP extensions have been installed), you can use the `--cleanup` option (**EXPERIMENTAL**):
+If you want to remove the APT development packages (which shouldn't be needed after the PHP extensions have been installed) and other no longer required packages, you can use the `--cleanup` option (**EXPERIMENTAL**):
 ```
 install-php-extensions --cleanup gd xdebug
 ```
@@ -128,10 +128,10 @@ Some extension has special requirements:
 ## How to contribute
 
 - If you want to add support for a new PHP extension:
-  1. change the `install-php-extensions` script
-  2. update the `data/supported-extensions` file, adding a new line with the handle of the extension and the list of supported PHP versions
-  3. if the extension requires ZTS images:  
-     add a new line to the `data/special-requirements` file, with the extension handle followed by a space and `zts`
-- If you want to change the list of supported PHP versions for an already supported extension:
-  1. change the `install-php-extensions` script
-  2. update the `data/supported-extensions` file, adding the new PHP version to the existing line corresponding to the updated extension
+  1. change the `install-php-extensions` script
+  2. update the `data/supported-extensions` file, adding a new line with the handle of the extension and the list of supported PHP versions
+  3. if the extension requires ZTS images:  
+     add a new line to the `data/special-requirements` file, with the extension handle followed by a space and `zts`
+- If you want to change the list of supported PHP versions for an already supported extension:
+  1. change the `install-php-extensions` script
+  2. update the `data/supported-extensions` file, adding the new PHP version to the existing line corresponding to the updated extension
diff --git a/install-php-extensions b/install-php-extensions
index 7cc801e..b9f7dc5 100755
--- a/install-php-extensions
+++ b/install-php-extensions
@@ -574,6 +574,11 @@ then
 			fi
 		fi
 	done
+	if test -n "${DO_APT_REMOVE}"
+    then
+		printf '### REMOVING NO LONGER REQUIRED PACKAGES ###\n'
+        DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive apt autoremove -y
+    fi
 	if test -n "${UNNEEDED_APT_PACKAGES}"
 	then
 		printf '### REMOVING UNNEEDED APT PACKAGES ###\n'