diff --git a/.zuul.yaml b/.zuul.yaml
index eb81c4ddd8..7494d9eca2 100644
--- a/.zuul.yaml
+++ b/.zuul.yaml
@@ -215,18 +215,16 @@
     name: zuul-build-python-release
     parent: build-python-release
     pre-run: playbooks/release/pre.yaml
-    vars: &zuul_build_vars
-      release_python: python3
 
 - job:
     name: zuul-release-python
     parent: opendev-release-python
     pre-run: playbooks/release/pre.yaml
-    vars: *zuul_build_vars
 
 - project:
     vars:
       node_version: 14
+      release_python: python3
     check:
       jobs:
         - zuul-build-image