diff --git a/diskimage_builder/elements/epel/pre-install.d/05-rpm-epel-release b/diskimage_builder/elements/epel/pre-install.d/05-rpm-epel-release
index 4a268119..91c16624 100755
--- a/diskimage_builder/elements/epel/pre-install.d/05-rpm-epel-release
+++ b/diskimage_builder/elements/epel/pre-install.d/05-rpm-epel-release
@@ -35,8 +35,11 @@ fi
 
 if [ ${DIB_EPEL_DISABLED:-0} -ne 0 ]; then
     if [[ ${YUM} == "dnf" ]]; then
+        rpm  -q dnf-plugins-core || dnf install -y dnf-plugins-core
         dnf config-manager --set-disabled "epel*"
     else
+        # Cannot rely on package-installs, it is executed later
+        rpm  -q yum-utils || yum install -y yum-utils
         yum-config-manager --disable "epel*"
     fi
 fi