diff --git a/zuul/lib/ansible-config.conf b/zuul/lib/ansible-config.conf
index ca58d09392..5ef801df11 100644
--- a/zuul/lib/ansible-config.conf
+++ b/zuul/lib/ansible-config.conf
@@ -4,7 +4,10 @@ default_version = 2.9
 requirements = ara>=0.16.5,<1.0.0 openstacksdk openshift jmespath google-cloud-storage
 
 [2.8]
-requirements = ansible>=2.8,<2.9
+# Ansible 2.8.16 breaks the k8s connection plugin
+requirements = ansible>=2.8,<2.9,!=2.8.16
 
 [2.9]
-requirements = ansible>=2.9,<2.10
+# Ansible 2.9.14 breaks the k8s connection plugin
+# https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/72171
+requirements = ansible>=2.9,<2.10,!=2.9.14