diff --git a/lib/utils.pm b/lib/utils.pm
index c3a06182..0a252678 100644
--- a/lib/utils.pm
+++ b/lib/utils.pm
@@ -751,15 +751,8 @@ sub _repo_setup_updates {
 }
 
 sub repo_setup {
-    # This repo does not always exist for Rawhide or Branched, and
-    # some things (at least realmd) try to update the repodata for
-    # it even though it is disabled, and fail. At present none of the
-    # tests needs it, so let's just unconditionally nuke it.
-    assert_script_run "rm -f /etc/yum.repos.d/fedora-cisco-openh264.repo";
     # Run the appropriate sub-function for the job
     get_var("ADVISORY_OR_TASK") ? _repo_setup_updates : _repo_setup_compose;
-    # wipe the openh264 file again in case it came back during repo setup
-    assert_script_run "rm -f /etc/yum.repos.d/fedora-cisco-openh264.repo";
 }
 
 sub console_initial_setup {
diff --git a/tests/upgrade_preinstall.pm b/tests/upgrade_preinstall.pm
index 2c00bc47..c4dc01f8 100644
--- a/tests/upgrade_preinstall.pm
+++ b/tests/upgrade_preinstall.pm
@@ -20,9 +20,6 @@ sub run {
     # from branched to rawhide to ensure we don't get packages from
     # updates-testing for anything we do between here and upgrade_run
     disable_updates_repos(both => 0);
-    # disable openh264 repo, otherwise stuff from it might cause
-    # trouble when it's disabled by repo_setup later
-    assert_script_run "rm -f /etc/yum.repos.d/fedora-cisco-openh264.repo";
     assert_script_run 'dnf -y update --refresh', 1800;
     script_run "reboot", 0;