diff --git a/composer.json b/composer.json
index 4b08496..3823c0f 100644
--- a/composer.json
+++ b/composer.json
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
         "drupal/search_api": "^1.21",
         "drush/drush": ">=10",
         "localgovdrupal/localgov_alert_banner": "^1.2.0",
-        "localgovdrupal/localgov_base": "^1.3.1",
+        "localgovdrupal/localgov_base": "^1.7.0",
         "localgovdrupal/localgov_core": "^2.12.0",
         "localgovdrupal/localgov_demo": "^3.0@alpha",
         "localgovdrupal/localgov_directories": "^3.0",
diff --git a/localgov.info.yml b/localgov.info.yml
index 09af78b..d801c9c 100644
--- a/localgov.info.yml
+++ b/localgov.info.yml
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ install:
   - localgov_services:localgov_services_navigation
   - localgov_services:localgov_services_page
   - localgov_services:localgov_services_sublanding
+  - localgov_base:localgov_base_helper
 
 dependencies:
   - localgov_core:localgov_core
diff --git a/localgov.install b/localgov.install
index e74ff19..fe8a6d7 100644
--- a/localgov.install
+++ b/localgov.install
@@ -101,3 +101,18 @@ function localgov_update_9503() {
     }
   }
 }
+
+/**
+ * Update existing sites to enable the theme dependency module for base.
+ */
+function localgov_update_9504() {
+  // The theme dependency should have caused the module to exist, but lets not
+  // fail if it's not there, as this is just a helper. The theme will continue
+  // to work when updated later, but report the requirement.
+  if (\Drupal::service('theme_handler')->themeExists('localgov_base')) {
+    if (\Drupal::service('module_installer')->install(['localgov_base_helper'])) {
+      return t('Base theme helper module enabled.');
+    }
+    return t('LocalGov Base theme will require the LocalGov Base Helper module. Enable it manually when upgrading to version 1.7.0 or higher.');
+  }
+}