diff --git a/inventory/group_vars/utility_all.yml b/inventory/group_vars/utility_all.yml
index e94baabb7e..f08aab7212 100644
--- a/inventory/group_vars/utility_all.yml
+++ b/inventory/group_vars/utility_all.yml
@@ -31,12 +31,24 @@ utility_distro_packages:
   - git
   - bash-completion
 
-utility_distro_openstack_clients_packages:
-  - python-keystoneclient
-  - python-neutronclient
-  - python-novaclient
-  - python-cinderclient
-  - python-openstackclient
+# Packages installed into the utility container for distro installs
+# NOTE(jrosser) this can be simplified when all supported
+# distros use python3
+utility_distro_openstack_clients_python_version: "{{ (ansible_distribution == 'CentOS') | ternary('2', '3') }}"
+
+_utility_distro_openstack_clients_packages:
+  2:
+    - python-keystoneclient
+    - python-neutronclient
+    - python-novaclient
+    - python-cinderclient
+    - python-openstackclient
+  3:
+    - python3-keystoneclient
+    - python3-neutronclient
+    - python3-novaclient
+    - python3-cinderclient
+    - python3-openstackclient
 
 # Python packages to be installed into the utility container
 utility_pip_packages:
diff --git a/playbooks/utility-install.yml b/playbooks/utility-install.yml
index 9c1197e9d1..0a4416dfc3 100644
--- a/playbooks/utility-install.yml
+++ b/playbooks/utility-install.yml
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@
   post_tasks:
     - name: Add OpenStack client to distro packages
       set_fact:
-        utility_distro_packages: "{{ (utility_distro_packages | default([])) + utility_distro_openstack_clients_packages }}"
+        utility_distro_packages: "{{ (utility_distro_packages | default([])) + _utility_distro_openstack_clients_packages[utility_distro_openstack_clients_python_version|int] }}"
       when: install_method == "distro"
 
     - name: Install distro packages