diff --git a/src/pylorax/cmdline.py b/src/pylorax/cmdline.py
index d1b7ecc7..1bc8ecea 100644
--- a/src/pylorax/cmdline.py
+++ b/src/pylorax/cmdline.py
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ def lmc_parser(dracut_default=""):
                         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", default="28",
+    parser.add_argument("--releasever", default="8",
                         help="substituted for @VERSION@ in bootloader config files")
     parser.add_argument("--volid", default=None, help="volume id")
     parser.add_argument("--squashfs_args",
diff --git a/src/sbin/lorax b/src/sbin/lorax
index fbd63554..275a3602 100755
--- a/src/sbin/lorax
+++ b/src/sbin/lorax
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ def main():
 
 def get_dnf_base_object(installroot, sources, mirrorlists=None, repos=None,
                         enablerepos=None, disablerepos=None,
-                        tempdir="/var/tmp", proxy=None, releasever="28",
+                        tempdir="/var/tmp", proxy=None, releasever="8",
                         cachedir=None, logdir=None, sslverify=True):
     """ Create a dnf Base object and setup the repositories and installroot