The study describes a novel phenomenon in bacteriophage life cycles known as tRNA-dependent lysogeny, characterized by the integration of temperate phages at bacterial tRNA genes. This process involves two unusual features: (1) site-specific recombination mediated by a phage-encoded tyrosine family integrase between a phage *attP* site and a bacterial *attB* site overlapping a host tRNA gene, and (2) the phage encoding a tRNA of the same isotype as the disrupted host tRNA to complement its loss. The importance of this phenomenon is highlighted by the fact that deletion of the phage tRNA results in clear plaques and non-viable progeny, indicating that the phage tRNA is essential for lysogeny. The study also demonstrates that this mechanism is used by phages within multiple different groups of related viruses and may be prevalent in the broader phage community. The findings provide new insights into the regulation of phage life cycles and highlight the diversity of regulatory systems employed by temperate phages.The study describes a novel phenomenon in bacteriophage life cycles known as tRNA-dependent lysogeny, characterized by the integration of temperate phages at bacterial tRNA genes. This process involves two unusual features: (1) site-specific recombination mediated by a phage-encoded tyrosine family integrase between a phage *attP* site and a bacterial *attB* site overlapping a host tRNA gene, and (2) the phage encoding a tRNA of the same isotype as the disrupted host tRNA to complement its loss. The importance of this phenomenon is highlighted by the fact that deletion of the phage tRNA results in clear plaques and non-viable progeny, indicating that the phage tRNA is essential for lysogeny. The study also demonstrates that this mechanism is used by phages within multiple different groups of related viruses and may be prevalent in the broader phage community. The findings provide new insights into the regulation of phage life cycles and highlight the diversity of regulatory systems employed by temperate phages.