diff --git a/src/pylorax/__init__.py b/src/pylorax/__init__.py
index aafd0c95..6a9bbcb0 100644
--- a/src/pylorax/__init__.py
+++ b/src/pylorax/__init__.py
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ class Lorax(BaseLoraxClass):
     def run(self, dbo, product, version, release, variant="", bugurl="",
             isfinal=False, workdir=None, outputdir=None, buildarch=None, volid=None,
             domacboot=True, doupgrade=True, remove_temp=False,
-            installpkgs=None,
+            installpkgs=None, excludepkgs=None,
             size=2,
             add_templates=None,
             add_template_vars=None,
@@ -176,6 +176,7 @@ class Lorax(BaseLoraxClass):
         assert self._configured
 
         installpkgs = installpkgs or []
+        excludepkgs = excludepkgs or []
 
         # get lorax version
         try:
@@ -270,6 +271,7 @@ class Lorax(BaseLoraxClass):
         rb = RuntimeBuilder(product=self.product, arch=self.arch,
                             dbo=dbo, templatedir=self.templatedir,
                             installpkgs=installpkgs,
+                            excludepkgs=excludepkgs,
                             add_templates=add_templates,
                             add_template_vars=add_template_vars)
 
diff --git a/src/pylorax/cmdline.py b/src/pylorax/cmdline.py
index 69b6ccb9..45991b71 100644
--- a/src/pylorax/cmdline.py
+++ b/src/pylorax/cmdline.py
@@ -65,6 +65,9 @@ def lorax_parser():
     optional.add_argument("-i", "--installpkgs", default=[],
                         action="append", metavar="PACKAGE",
                         help="package glob to install before runtime-install.tmpl runs. (may be listed multiple times)")
+    optional.add_argument("-e", "--excludepkgs", default=[],
+                        action="append", metavar="PACKAGE",
+                        help="package glob to remove before runtime-install.tmpl runs. (may be listed multiple times)")
     optional.add_argument("--buildarch", default=None,
                         help="build architecture", metavar="ARCH")
     optional.add_argument("--volid", default=None,
diff --git a/src/pylorax/treebuilder.py b/src/pylorax/treebuilder.py
index 7684dc16..7a200453 100644
--- a/src/pylorax/treebuilder.py
+++ b/src/pylorax/treebuilder.py
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ def generate_module_info(moddir, outfile=None):
 class RuntimeBuilder(object):
     '''Builds the anaconda runtime image.'''
     def __init__(self, product, arch, dbo, templatedir=None,
-                 installpkgs=None,
+                 installpkgs=None, excludepkgs=None,
                  add_templates=None,
                  add_template_vars=None):
         root = dbo.conf.installroot
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ class RuntimeBuilder(object):
         self.add_templates = add_templates or []
         self.add_template_vars = add_template_vars or {}
         self._installpkgs = installpkgs or []
+        self._excludepkgs = excludepkgs or []
         self._runner.defaults = self.vars
         self.dbo.reset()
 
@@ -116,6 +117,8 @@ class RuntimeBuilder(object):
         self._install_branding()
         if len(self._installpkgs) > 0:
             self._runner.installpkg(*self._installpkgs)
+        if len(self._excludepkgs) > 0:
+            self._runner.removepkg(*self._excludepkgs)
         self._runner.run("runtime-install.tmpl")
         for tmpl in self.add_templates:
             self._runner.run(tmpl, **self.add_template_vars)
diff --git a/src/sbin/lorax b/src/sbin/lorax
index 5e998129..9791a27a 100755
--- a/src/sbin/lorax
+++ b/src/sbin/lorax
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ def main():
               opts.variant, opts.bugurl, opts.isfinal,
               workdir=tempdir, outputdir=opts.outputdir, buildarch=opts.buildarch,
               volid=opts.volid, domacboot=opts.domacboot, doupgrade=opts.doupgrade,
-              installpkgs=opts.installpkgs,
+              installpkgs=opts.installpkgs, excludepkgs=opts.excludepkgs,
               size=opts.rootfs_size,
               add_templates=opts.add_templates,
               add_template_vars=parsed_add_template_vars,