diff --git a/pbr/packaging.py b/pbr/packaging.py
index 4d1332ed..c4a59771 100644
--- a/pbr/packaging.py
+++ b/pbr/packaging.py
@@ -125,6 +125,13 @@ def parse_requirements(requirements_files=None):
         if (not line.strip()) or line.startswith('#'):
             continue
 
+        # Handle nested requirements files such as:
+        # -r other-requirements.txt
+        if line.startswith('-r'):
+            req_file = line.partition(' ')[2]
+            requirements += parse_requirements([req_file])
+            continue
+
         try:
             project_name = pkg_resources.Requirement.parse(line).project_name
         except ValueError:
diff --git a/pbr/tests/test_packaging.py b/pbr/tests/test_packaging.py
index d01c4fb5..abcc68d8 100644
--- a/pbr/tests/test_packaging.py
+++ b/pbr/tests/test_packaging.py
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
 # BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS
 
 import os
+import tempfile
 
 import fixtures
 import mock
@@ -145,3 +146,17 @@ class TestPresenceOfGit(base.BaseTestCase):
                                '_run_shell_command') as _command:
             _command.side_effect = OSError
             self.assertEqual(False, packaging._git_is_installed())
+
+
+class TestNestedRequirements(base.BaseTestCase):
+
+    def test_nested_requirement(self):
+        tempdir = tempfile.mkdtemp()
+        requirements = os.path.join(tempdir, 'requirements.txt')
+        nested = os.path.join(tempdir, 'nested.txt')
+        with open(requirements, 'w') as f:
+            f.write('-r ' + nested)
+        with open(nested, 'w') as f:
+            f.write('pbr')
+        result = packaging.parse_requirements([requirements])
+        self.assertEqual(result, ['pbr'])