diff --git a/openstackdocstheme/ext.py b/openstackdocstheme/ext.py
index 41e475df..a77b7034 100644
--- a/openstackdocstheme/ext.py
+++ b/openstackdocstheme/ext.py
@@ -383,8 +383,8 @@ def _builder_inited(app):
         app.config.version = project_version
         app.config.release = project_version
 
-    if not app.config.latex_engine:
-        app.config.latex_engine = 'xelatex'
+    # Override default setting
+    app.config.latex_engine = 'xelatex'
 
     theme_logo = paths.get_theme_logo_path(app.config.html_theme)
     pdf_theme_path = paths.get_pdf_theme_path(app.config.html_theme)
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/latex_engine-cc35cb3a4ad2fa00.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/latex_engine-cc35cb3a4ad2fa00.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..23015e74
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/latex_engine-cc35cb3a4ad2fa00.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+fixes:
+  - |
+    ``latex_engine`` is always set to ``xelatex``, there's no good solution
+    to check whether it is overriden. This restores the behavior before
+    version 2.1.0.