diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/package-list-name-changes-e6f88d12f3bd9fa0.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/package-list-name-changes-e6f88d12f3bd9fa0.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6e148961
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/package-list-name-changes-e6f88d12f3bd9fa0.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+---
+upgrade:
+  - The variable ``swift_apt_packages`` has been renamed to
+    ``swift_distro_packages``.
diff --git a/tasks/install-apt.yml b/tasks/install-apt.yml
index bd853d95..bec79ea5 100644
--- a/tasks/install-apt.yml
+++ b/tasks/install-apt.yml
@@ -34,4 +34,4 @@
   until: install_packages|success
   retries: 5
   delay: 2
-  with_items: "{{ swift_apt_packages }}"
+  with_items: "{{ swift_distro_packages }}"
diff --git a/vars/debian.yml b/vars/debian.yml
index 5ac185f9..46faba49 100644
--- a/vars/debian.yml
+++ b/vars/debian.yml
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 
 cache_timeout: 600
 
-swift_apt_packages:
+swift_distro_packages:
   - curl
   - gcc
   - git-core