diff --git a/diskimage_builder/elements/ubuntu-common/environment.d/10-ubuntu-distro-name.bash b/diskimage_builder/elements/ubuntu-common/environment.d/10-ubuntu-distro-name.bash
index 253127e1..06e5651c 100644
--- a/diskimage_builder/elements/ubuntu-common/environment.d/10-ubuntu-distro-name.bash
+++ b/diskimage_builder/elements/ubuntu-common/environment.d/10-ubuntu-distro-name.bash
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 export DISTRO_NAME=${DISTRO_NAME:-ubuntu}
-export DIB_RELEASE=${DIB_RELEASE:-xenial}
+export DIB_RELEASE=${DIB_RELEASE:-bionic}
 export DIB_DEBIAN_COMPONENTS=${DIB_DEBIAN_COMPONENTS:-main,universe}
 
 # There are two default distro mirrors depending on architecture