diff --git a/contrib/debian/compat b/contrib/debian/compat
index ec635144f..48082f72f 100644
--- a/contrib/debian/compat
+++ b/contrib/debian/compat
@@ -1 +1 @@
-9
+12
diff --git a/contrib/debian/control b/contrib/debian/control
index 5f3b10f84..d24f04075 100644
--- a/contrib/debian/control
+++ b/contrib/debian/control
@@ -1,69 +1,70 @@
 Source: bitcoinabc
 Section: utils
 Priority: optional
 Maintainer: Bitcoin ABC Package Maintainers <package-maintainers@bitcoinabc.org>
 Uploaders: Jason B. Cox <jasonbcox@bitcoinabc.org>
 Build-Depends: cmake (>= 3.13),
- debhelper,
+ debhelper (>=12.1),
  devscripts,
  git,
  libdb5.3++-dev,
  libevent-dev,
  libjemalloc-dev,
  libminiupnpc-dev,
  libboost-filesystem-dev,
  libboost-chrono-dev,
  libboost-system-dev,
  libboost-thread-dev,
  libboost-test-dev,
  libprotobuf-dev,
  libqrencode-dev,
  libssl-dev,
  libzmq3-dev,
+ ninja-build,
  protobuf-compiler,
  python3,
  qttools5-dev,
  qttools5-dev-tools
 Standards-Version: 3.9.2
 Homepage: https://bitcoinabc.org/
 Vcs-Git: ssh://vcs@reviews.bitcoinabc.org:2221/source/bitcoin-abc.git
 Vcs-Browser: https://reviews.bitcoinabc.org/source/bitcoin-abc/
 
 Package: bitcoind
 Architecture: any
 Depends: ${shlibs:Depends}, ${misc:Depends}
 Description: peer-to-peer network based digital currency - daemon
  Bitcoin is an experimental new digital currency that enables instant
  payments to anyone, anywhere in the world. Bitcoin uses peer-to-peer
  technology to operate with no central authority: managing transactions
  and issuing money are carried out collectively by the network. Bitcoin ABC
  is the name of the open source software which enables the use of this currency.
  .
  This package provides the daemon, bitcoind, and the CLI tool
  bitcoin-cli to interact with the daemon.
 
 Package: bitcoin-qt
 Architecture: any
 Depends: ${shlibs:Depends}, ${misc:Depends}
 Description: peer-to-peer network based digital currency - Qt GUI
  Bitcoin is an experimental new digital currency that enables instant
  payments to anyone, anywhere in the world. Bitcoin uses peer-to-peer
  technology to operate with no central authority: managing transactions
  and issuing money are carried out collectively by the network. Bitcoin ABC
  is the name of the open source software which enables the use of this currency.
  .
  This package provides Bitcoin-Qt, a GUI for Bitcoin based on Qt.
 
 Package: bitcoin-tx
 Architecture: any
 Depends: ${shlibs:Depends}, ${misc:Depends}
 Description: peer-to-peer digital currency - standalone transaction tool
  Bitcoin is an experimental new digital currency that enables instant
  payments to anyone, anywhere in the world. Bitcoin uses peer-to-peer
  technology to operate with no central authority: managing transactions
  and issuing money are carried out collectively by the network. Bitcoin ABC
  is the name of the open source software which enables the use of this currency.
  .
  This package provides bitcoin-tx, a command-line transaction creation
  tool which can be used without a bitcoin daemon.  Some means of
  exchanging minimal transaction data with peers is still required.
diff --git a/contrib/debian/rules b/contrib/debian/rules
index e6a5a0da4..398e6a38d 100755
--- a/contrib/debian/rules
+++ b/contrib/debian/rules
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 #!/usr/bin/make -f
 # -*- mode: makefile; coding: utf-8 -*-
 
 %:
-	dh $@ --buildsystem=cmake
+	dh $@ --buildsystem=cmake+ninja --builddirectory=_build
+
+override_dh_auto_configure:
+	dh_auto_configure -- -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=RelWithDebInfo
+
+override_dh_auto_test:
+	ninja -C _build check