diff --git a/json-files/centos-7-undercloud-packages.json b/json-files/centos-7-undercloud-packages.json
index 1a6bba409..652d0bbf1 100644
--- a/json-files/centos-7-undercloud-packages.json
+++ b/json-files/centos-7-undercloud-packages.json
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
     ],
     "exclude-element": [
       "pip-and-virtualenv",
+      "epel",
       "os-collect-config",
       "svc-map",
       "pip-manifest",
diff --git a/json-files/rhel-7-undercloud-packages.json b/json-files/rhel-7-undercloud-packages.json
index 1a6bba409..652d0bbf1 100644
--- a/json-files/rhel-7-undercloud-packages.json
+++ b/json-files/rhel-7-undercloud-packages.json
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
     ],
     "exclude-element": [
       "pip-and-virtualenv",
+      "epel",
       "os-collect-config",
       "svc-map",
       "pip-manifest",