diff --git a/common/deploy-steps-tasks.yaml b/common/deploy-steps-tasks.yaml
index 2960fa6d80..9627122145 100644
--- a/common/deploy-steps-tasks.yaml
+++ b/common/deploy-steps-tasks.yaml
@@ -470,6 +470,8 @@
     # we have new paunch version related to
     # https://review.openstack.org/#/c/635438/
     - name: Start containers for step {{ step }}
+      environment:
+        TRIPLEO_MINOR_UPDATE: '{{ tripleo_minor_update | default(false) }}'
       command: >-
         paunch {% if enable_debug|bool %}--debug{% else %}-v{% endif %} apply
         --default-runtime "{{ container_cli }}"
diff --git a/common/deploy-steps.j2 b/common/deploy-steps.j2
index 74c6d05e61..59a357968d 100644
--- a/common/deploy-steps.j2
+++ b/common/deploy-steps.j2
@@ -504,6 +504,7 @@ outputs:
                 docker_puppet_debug: DOCKER_PUPPET_DEBUG
                 docker_puppet_process_count: DOCKER_PUPPET_PROCESS_COUNT
                 docker_puppet_mount_host_puppet: DOCKER_PUPPET_MOUNT_HOST_PUPPET
+                tripleo_minor_update: true
               tasks:
                 - include_tasks: update_steps_tasks.yaml
                   with_sequence: start=0 end={{update_steps_max-1}}
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/minor-update-env-20657417094d4aeb.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/minor-update-env-20657417094d4aeb.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e144942f5e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/minor-update-env-20657417094d4aeb.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+fixes:
+  - |
+    It is now possible for temporary containers inside THT to test if they are being run
+    as part of a minor update by checking if the TRIPLEO_MINOR_UPDATE environment
+    variable is set to 'true' (said containers need to export it to the container explicitely),
+    see <service>_restart_bundles for examples.