diff --git a/platformio/debug/config/base.py b/platformio/debug/config/base.py
index e66f7e72..c453ff5c 100644
--- a/platformio/debug/config/base.py
+++ b/platformio/debug/config/base.py
@@ -186,10 +186,7 @@ class DebugConfigBase:  # pylint: disable=too-many-instance-attributes
                 else None
             )
             if server_package and not server_package_dir:
-                self.platform.install_packages(
-                    with_packages=[server_package],
-                    skip_default_package=True,
-                )
+                self.platform.install_package(server_package)
                 server_package_dir = self.platform.get_package_dir(server_package)
             result.update(
                 dict(
diff --git a/platformio/platform/_packages.py b/platformio/platform/_packages.py
index d505533d..c36cb956 100644
--- a/platformio/platform/_packages.py
+++ b/platformio/platform/_packages.py
@@ -66,11 +66,14 @@ class PlatformPackagesMixin(object):
             result.append(item)
         return result
 
+    def install_package(self, name, spec=None, force=False):
+        return self.pm.install(spec or self.get_package_spec(name), force=force)
+
     def install_required_packages(self, force=False):
         for name, options in self.packages.items():
             if options.get("optional"):
                 continue
-            self.pm.install(self.get_package_spec(name), force=force)
+            self.install_package(name, force=force)
 
     def uninstall_packages(self):
         for pkg in self.get_installed_packages():