diff --git a/src/modules/packages/main.py b/src/modules/packages/main.py
index 7be143363..518ff4907 100644
--- a/src/modules/packages/main.py
+++ b/src/modules/packages/main.py
@@ -397,9 +397,15 @@ class PMPacman(PackageManager):
         self.in_package_changes = False
         self.line_cb = line_cb
 
-        self.pacman_num_retries = libcalamares.job.configuration.get("pacman_num_retries", 0)
-        self.pacman_disable_timeout = libcalamares.job.configuration.get("pacman_disable_download_timeout", False)
-        self.pacman_needed_only = libcalamares.job.configuration.get("pacman_needed_only", False)
+        pacman = libcalamares.job.configuration.get("pacman", None)
+        if pacman is None:
+            pacman = dict()
+        if type(pacman) is not dict:
+            libcalamares.utils.warning("Job configuration *pacman* will be ignored.")
+            pacman = dict()
+        self.pacman_num_retries = pacman.get("pacman_num_retries", 0)
+        self.pacman_disable_timeout = pacman.get("pacman_disable_download_timeout", False)
+        self.pacman_needed_only = pacman.get("pacman_needed_only", False)
 
     def reset_progress(self):
         self.in_package_changes = False
diff --git a/src/modules/packages/packages.conf b/src/modules/packages/packages.conf
index 8d76060a0..6e62f4b5f 100644
--- a/src/modules/packages/packages.conf
+++ b/src/modules/packages/packages.conf
@@ -64,19 +64,20 @@ update_system: false
 
 # pacman specific options
 #
-# pacman_num_retries should be a positive integer which sepcifies the
+# *num_retries* should be a positive integer which specifies the
 # number of times the call to pacman will be retried in the event of a
-# failure.  If it is missing, it will be set to 0
+# failure.  If it is missing, it will be set to 0.
 #
-# pacman_disable_download_timeout is a boolean that, when true, includes
+# *disable_download_timeout* is a boolean that, when true, includes
 # the flag --disable-download-timeout on calls to pacman.  When missing,
-# false is assumed
+# false is assumed.
 #
-# pacman_needed_only is a boolean that includes the pacman argument --needed
-# when set to true.  If missing, false is assumed
-pacman_num_retries: 0
-pacman_disable_download_timeout: false
-pacman_needed_only: false
+# *needed_only* is a boolean that includes the pacman argument --needed
+# when set to true.  If missing, false is assumed.
+pacman:
+    num_retries: 0
+    disable_download_timeout: false
+    needed_only: false
 
 #
 # List of maps with package operations such as install or remove.
diff --git a/src/modules/packages/packages.schema.yaml b/src/modules/packages/packages.schema.yaml
index bc0a1f9ea..d12f0507e 100644
--- a/src/modules/packages/packages.schema.yaml
+++ b/src/modules/packages/packages.schema.yaml
@@ -26,9 +26,13 @@ properties:
     update_system: { type: boolean, default: false }
     skip_if_no_internet: { type: boolean, default: false }
 
-    pacman_num_retries: { type: integer, default: 0 }
-    pacman_disable_download_timeout: { type: boolean, default: false }
-    pacman_needed_only: { type: boolean, default: false }
+    pacman:
+        additionalProperties: false
+        type: object
+        properties:
+            num_retries: { type: integer, default: 0 }
+            disable_download_timeout: { type: boolean, default: false }
+            needed_only: { type: boolean, default: false }
 
     operations:
         type: array