diff --git a/devstack/plugin.sh b/devstack/plugin.sh
index fe0aafa5f2..fdd7543282 100644
--- a/devstack/plugin.sh
+++ b/devstack/plugin.sh
@@ -9,7 +9,15 @@ function octavia_install {
     setup_develop $OCTAVIA_DIR
     if [ $OCTAVIA_NODE == 'main' ] || [ $OCTAVIA_NODE == 'standalone' ] ; then
         if ! [ "$DISABLE_AMP_IMAGE_BUILD" == 'True' ]; then
-            install_package qemu kpartx
+            install_package kpartx
+            if [[ ${DISTRO} =~ "rhel7" ]]; then
+                # Installing qemu would bring in the default OS qemu package,
+                # which is too old for Pike and later releases
+                # See https://review.openstack.org/#/c/438325 for details
+                install_package qemu-kvm
+            else
+                install_package qemu
+            fi
         fi
     fi
 }