diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index aa931d6b6..30f3bf29e 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@
 
 		<main-class>org.janelia.saalfeldlab.paintera.Paintera</main-class>
 		<app.name>Paintera</app.name>
+		<app.version>1.2.3</app.version>
 		<jvm.modules>javafx.base,javafx.controls,javafx.fxml,javafx.media,javafx.swing,javafx.web,javafx.graphics,java.naming,java.management,java.sql</jvm.modules>
 		<project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
 		<windows.upgrade.uuid>f918b6f9-8685-4b50-9fbd-9be7a1209249</windows.upgrade.uuid>
diff --git a/src/packaging/linux/control b/src/packaging/linux/control
index 8c0916ecd..e28e4c0a0 100644
--- a/src/packaging/linux/control
+++ b/src/packaging/linux/control
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 Package: paintera
-Version: 1.0
+Version: 1.2.3
 Section: misc
 Maintainer: Caleb Hulbert <hulbertc@janelia.hhmi.org>
 Priority: optional
diff --git a/src/packaging/linux/jpackage.txt b/src/packaging/linux/jpackage.txt
index 5bc07ac82..3bdf995a8 100644
--- a/src/packaging/linux/jpackage.txt
+++ b/src/packaging/linux/jpackage.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 --verbose
 --name ${app.name}
+--app-version ${app.version}
 --icon "${project.basedir}/img/icons/icon-draft.png"
 --dest "${project.build.directory}/installer-${matrix.os}"
 --main-class ${main-class}
diff --git a/src/packaging/linux/postinst b/src/packaging/linux/postinst
index ecfb374e7..794abf772 100644
--- a/src/packaging/linux/postinst
+++ b/src/packaging/linux/postinst
@@ -1 +1,40 @@
-ln -s /opt/paintera-convert/bin/paintera /usr/local/bin/paintera
\ No newline at end of file
+#!/bin/sh
+# postinst script for APPLICATION_PACKAGE
+#
+# see: dh_installdeb(1)
+
+set -e
+
+# summary of how this script can be called:
+#        * <postinst> `configure' <most-recently-configured-version>
+#        * <old-postinst> `abort-upgrade' <new version>
+#        * <conflictor's-postinst> `abort-remove' `in-favour' <package>
+#          <new-version>
+#        * <postinst> `abort-remove'
+#        * <deconfigured's-postinst> `abort-deconfigure' `in-favour'
+#          <failed-install-package> <version> `removing'
+#          <conflicting-package> <version>
+# for details, see https://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/ or
+# the debian-policy package
+
+package_type=deb
+LAUNCHER_AS_SERVICE_SCRIPTS
+
+case "$1" in
+    configure)
+DESKTOP_COMMANDS_INSTALL
+ln -s /opt/paintera-convert/bin/paintera /usr/local/bin/paintera
+LAUNCHER_AS_SERVICE_COMMANDS_INSTALL
+    ;;
+
+    abort-upgrade|abort-remove|abort-deconfigure)
+    ;;
+
+    *)
+        echo "postinst called with unknown argument \`$1'" >&2
+        exit 1
+    ;;
+esac
+
+exit 0
+
diff --git a/src/packaging/linux/postrm b/src/packaging/linux/postrm
index 35b85cdcd..55c5a8144 100644
--- a/src/packaging/linux/postrm
+++ b/src/packaging/linux/postrm
@@ -1 +1,33 @@
-rm /usr/local/bin/paintera
\ No newline at end of file
+#!/bin/sh
+# postrm script for APPLICATION_PACKAGE
+#
+# see: dh_installdeb(1)
+
+set -e
+
+# summary of how this script can be called:
+#        * <postrm> `remove'
+#        * <postrm> `purge'
+#        * <old-postrm> `upgrade' <new-version>
+#        * <new-postrm> `failed-upgrade' <old-version>
+#        * <new-postrm> `abort-install'
+#        * <new-postrm> `abort-install' <old-version>
+#        * <new-postrm> `abort-upgrade' <old-version>
+#        * <disappearer's-postrm> `disappear' <overwriter>
+#          <overwriter-version>
+# for details, see https://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/ or
+# the debian-policy package
+
+case "$1" in
+    purge|remove|upgrade|failed-upgrade|abort-install|abort-upgrade|disappear)
+        rm /usr/local/bin/paintera
+    ;;
+
+    *)
+        echo "postrm called with unknown argument \`$1'" >&2
+        exit 1
+    ;;
+esac
+
+exit 0
+