diff --git a/src/sbin/livemedia-creator b/src/sbin/livemedia-creator
index 903488e4..3c970942 100755
--- a/src/sbin/livemedia-creator
+++ b/src/sbin/livemedia-creator
@@ -365,7 +365,7 @@ def get_arch(mount_dir):
 
 def make_appliance(disk_img, name, template, outfile, networks=None, ram=1024,
                    vcpus=1, arch=None, title="Linux", project="Linux",
-                   releasever=17):
+                   releasever="7.0"):
     """
     Generate an appliance description file
 
@@ -800,7 +800,7 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
                          help="Substituted for @TITLE@ in bootloader config files" )
     parser.add_argument( "--project", default="Linux",
                          help="substituted for @PROJECT@ in bootloader config files" )
-    parser.add_argument( "--releasever", type=int, default=16,
+    parser.add_argument( "--releasever", default="21",
                          help="substituted for @VERSION@ in bootloader config files" )
     parser.add_argument( "--volid", default=None, help="volume id")
     parser.add_argument( "--squashfs_args",