diff --git a/tests/upgrade_preinstall.pm b/tests/upgrade_preinstall.pm
index c4dc01f8..2c00bc47 100644
--- a/tests/upgrade_preinstall.pm
+++ b/tests/upgrade_preinstall.pm
@@ -20,6 +20,9 @@ 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;