diff --git a/.zuul.d/jobs.yaml b/.zuul.d/jobs.yaml
index 34391c41..195a9f10 100644
--- a/.zuul.d/jobs.yaml
+++ b/.zuul.d/jobs.yaml
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@
       dib_functests:
         - centos7/build-succeeds
         - opensuse/build-succeeds
-        - opensuse/opensuse150-build-succeeds
+        - opensuse/opensuse151-build-succeeds
         - fedora/build-succeeds
         - ubuntu/trusty-build-succeeds
         - ubuntu/xenial-build-succeeds
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@
       # opensuse-minimal can only build on xenial ATM, as other
       # platforms don't have zypper
       dib_functests_extra:
-        - opensuse-minimal/opensuse150-build-succeeds
+        - opensuse-minimal/opensuse151-build-succeeds
 
 - job:
     name: dib-functests-xenial-python3-containers
diff --git a/diskimage_builder/elements/dib-python/environment.d/50-dib-python-version b/diskimage_builder/elements/dib-python/environment.d/50-dib-python-version
index 9e38f525..0c957ed0 100644
--- a/diskimage_builder/elements/dib-python/environment.d/50-dib-python-version
+++ b/diskimage_builder/elements/dib-python/environment.d/50-dib-python-version
@@ -24,7 +24,9 @@ if [ -z "${DIB_PYTHON_VERSION:-}" ]; then
             DIB_PYTHON_VERSION=3
         fi
     elif [ "$DISTRO_NAME" == "opensuse" ]; then
-        DIB_PYTHON_VERSION=2
+        if [ "${DIB_RELEASE:0:2}" == "42" ]; then
+            DIB_PYTHON_VERSION=2
+        fi
     fi
 fi
 
diff --git a/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse-minimal/README.rst b/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse-minimal/README.rst
index 3dff5041..f525fc7e 100644
--- a/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse-minimal/README.rst
+++ b/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse-minimal/README.rst
@@ -13,5 +13,5 @@ Environment Variables
 
 DIB_RELEASE
   :Required: No
-  :Default: 15.0
+  :Default: 15.1
   :Description: Set the desired openSUSE release.
diff --git a/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse-minimal/environment.d/10-opensuse-distro-name.bash b/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse-minimal/environment.d/10-opensuse-distro-name.bash
index 57d59b1d..3be5640b 100644
--- a/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse-minimal/environment.d/10-opensuse-distro-name.bash
+++ b/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse-minimal/environment.d/10-opensuse-distro-name.bash
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 export DISTRO_NAME=opensuse
-DIB_RELEASE=${DIB_RELEASE:-15.0}
+DIB_RELEASE=${DIB_RELEASE:-15.1}
 export DIB_RELEASE=${DIB_RELEASE,,}
 export DIB_OPENSUSE_PATTERNS=patterns-openSUSE-base
diff --git a/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse-minimal/test-elements/opensuse150-build-succeeds/README.rst b/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse-minimal/test-elements/opensuse150-build-succeeds/README.rst
deleted file mode 100644
index 97c55f1b..00000000
--- a/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse-minimal/test-elements/opensuse150-build-succeeds/README.rst
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Verify we can build an openSUSE Leap 15.0 image.
diff --git a/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse-minimal/test-elements/opensuse150-build-succeeds/environment.d/10-set-distro.bash b/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse-minimal/test-elements/opensuse150-build-succeeds/environment.d/10-set-distro.bash
deleted file mode 100644
index 4f01f559..00000000
--- a/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse-minimal/test-elements/opensuse150-build-succeeds/environment.d/10-set-distro.bash
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-export DIB_RELEASE=15.0
diff --git a/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse-minimal/test-elements/opensuse151-build-succeeds/README.rst b/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse-minimal/test-elements/opensuse151-build-succeeds/README.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a05d8497
--- /dev/null
+++ b/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse-minimal/test-elements/opensuse151-build-succeeds/README.rst
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Verify we can build an openSUSE Leap 15.1 image.
diff --git a/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse-minimal/test-elements/opensuse150-build-succeeds/element-deps b/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse-minimal/test-elements/opensuse151-build-succeeds/element-deps
similarity index 100%
rename from diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse-minimal/test-elements/opensuse150-build-succeeds/element-deps
rename to diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse-minimal/test-elements/opensuse151-build-succeeds/element-deps
diff --git a/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse-minimal/test-elements/opensuse151-build-succeeds/environment.d/10-set-distro.bash b/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse-minimal/test-elements/opensuse151-build-succeeds/environment.d/10-set-distro.bash
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..25355f0b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse-minimal/test-elements/opensuse151-build-succeeds/environment.d/10-set-distro.bash
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+export DIB_RELEASE=15.1
diff --git a/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse/README.rst b/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse/README.rst
index a3c7f5e6..656ac958 100644
--- a/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse/README.rst
+++ b/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse/README.rst
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ Environment Variables
 
 DIB_RELEASE
   :Required: No
-  :Default: 15.0
+  :Default: 15.1
   :Description: Set the desired openSUSE release.
 
 DIB_CLOUD_IMAGES
diff --git a/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse/environment.d/10-opensuse-distro-name.bash b/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse/environment.d/10-opensuse-distro-name.bash
index cb1688f2..9121dbc6 100644
--- a/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse/environment.d/10-opensuse-distro-name.bash
+++ b/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse/environment.d/10-opensuse-distro-name.bash
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 export DISTRO_NAME=opensuse
-export DIB_RELEASE=${DIB_RELEASE:-15.0}
+export DIB_RELEASE=${DIB_RELEASE:-15.1}
 export DIB_OPENSUSE_PATTERNS=patterns-openSUSE-base
 case ${DIB_RELEASE} in
     # Old Leap releases
diff --git a/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse/test-elements/opensuse150-build-succeeds/README.rst b/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse/test-elements/opensuse150-build-succeeds/README.rst
deleted file mode 100644
index 97c55f1b..00000000
--- a/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse/test-elements/opensuse150-build-succeeds/README.rst
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Verify we can build an openSUSE Leap 15.0 image.
diff --git a/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse/test-elements/opensuse150-build-succeeds/environment.d/10-set-distro.bash b/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse/test-elements/opensuse150-build-succeeds/environment.d/10-set-distro.bash
deleted file mode 100644
index 4f01f559..00000000
--- a/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse/test-elements/opensuse150-build-succeeds/environment.d/10-set-distro.bash
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-export DIB_RELEASE=15.0
diff --git a/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse/test-elements/opensuse151-build-succeeds/README.rst b/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse/test-elements/opensuse151-build-succeeds/README.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a05d8497
--- /dev/null
+++ b/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse/test-elements/opensuse151-build-succeeds/README.rst
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Verify we can build an openSUSE Leap 15.1 image.
diff --git a/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse/test-elements/opensuse151-build-succeeds/environment.d/10-set-distro.bash b/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse/test-elements/opensuse151-build-succeeds/environment.d/10-set-distro.bash
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..25355f0b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse/test-elements/opensuse151-build-succeeds/environment.d/10-set-distro.bash
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+export DIB_RELEASE=15.1
diff --git a/diskimage_builder/elements/zypper-minimal/root.d/08-zypper-chroot b/diskimage_builder/elements/zypper-minimal/root.d/08-zypper-chroot
index 7fd59791..02c29f21 100755
--- a/diskimage_builder/elements/zypper-minimal/root.d/08-zypper-chroot
+++ b/diskimage_builder/elements/zypper-minimal/root.d/08-zypper-chroot
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ function cleanup() {
 trap cleanup EXIT
 
 ZYPPER_TARGET_OPTS="--non-interactive --gpg-auto-import-keys --root $TARGET_ROOT"
-ZYPPER_INSTALL_OPTS="--no-recommends"
+ZYPPER_INSTALL_SYSTEM_PYTHON="python3"
 
 DIB_DISTRIBUTION_MIRROR=${DIB_DISTRIBUTION_MIRROR:-https://download.opensuse.org}
 
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ case ${DIB_RELEASE} in
     42*)
         ZYPPER_REPOS="update=>${DIB_DISTRIBUTION_MIRROR}/update/leap/${DIB_RELEASE}/oss/ "
         ZYPPER_REPOS+="oss=>${DIB_DISTRIBUTION_MIRROR}/distribution/leap/${DIB_RELEASE}/repo/oss/"
+        ZYPPER_INSTALL_SYSTEM_PYTHON="python"
         ;;
     # New Leap releases
     15*)
@@ -94,9 +95,11 @@ sudo mount -t devpts $(mount_dev_pts_options) devpts $TARGET_ROOT/dev/pts
 sudo mount -t sysfs none $TARGET_ROOT/sys
 
 # Install filesystem, base and useful tools
-sudo zypper ${ZYPPER_TARGET_OPTS} install ${ZYPPER_INSTALL_OPTS} filesystem
+sudo zypper ${ZYPPER_TARGET_OPTS} install --no-recommends filesystem
 # Install basic components in order
-sudo zypper ${ZYPPER_TARGET_OPTS} install ${ZYPPER_INSTALL_OPTS} ${DIB_OPENSUSE_PATTERNS} python zypper sudo
+sudo zypper ${ZYPPER_TARGET_OPTS} install \
+    ${DIB_OPENSUSE_PATTERNS} ${ZYPPER_INSTALL_SYSTEM_PYTHON} \
+    zypper sudo ca-certificates-mozilla
 
 # Put in a dummy /etc/resolv.conf over the temporary one we used
 # to bootstrap.  systemd has a bug/feature [1] that it will assume
diff --git a/doc/source/user_guide/supported_distros.rst b/doc/source/user_guide/supported_distros.rst
index 18a25472..f9d314de 100644
--- a/doc/source/user_guide/supported_distros.rst
+++ b/doc/source/user_guide/supported_distros.rst
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ Distributions which are supported as a build host:
 - RHEL 6, 7
 - Ubuntu 14.04 ("trusty")
 - Gentoo
-- openSUSE Leap 42.2, 42.3, 15.0 and Tumbleweed
+- openSUSE Leap 42.3, 15.0, 15.1 and Tumbleweed
 
 
 Distributions which are supported as a target for an image:
@@ -20,4 +20,4 @@ Distributions which are supported as a target for an image:
 - RHEL 6, 7
 - Ubuntu 12.04 ("precise"), 14.04 ("trusty")
 - Gentoo
-- openSUSE Leap 42.2, 42.3, 15.0 and Tumbleweed (opensuse-minimal only)
+- openSUSE Leap 42.3, 15.0, 15.1 and Tumbleweed (opensuse-minimal only)
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/opensuse-151-default-67ccfffbc134704d.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/opensuse-151-default-67ccfffbc134704d.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ec8ace3d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/opensuse-151-default-67ccfffbc134704d.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+---
+deprecations:
+  - |
+    Support in opensuse and opensuse-minimal for openSUSE 42.2 has been removed
+    as these are end of life.
+
+upgrade:
+  - |
+    The opensuse and opensuse-minimal element are now defaulting to build 15.1.
+    Building for 42.3 and 15.0 is still supported, however requires setting
+    DIB_RELEASE to '42.3' resp. '15.0' explicitly.
diff --git a/tests/run_functests.sh b/tests/run_functests.sh
index 906b757f..19004316 100755
--- a/tests/run_functests.sh
+++ b/tests/run_functests.sh
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ DEFAULT_SKIP_TESTS=(
     # These require "zypper" on the host which is not available on
     # all platforms
     opensuse-minimal/build-succeeds
-    opensuse-minimal/opensuse150-build-succeeds
+    opensuse-minimal/opensuse151-build-succeeds
     # non-voting; not used by infra currently
     gentoo/build-succeeds
     # Needs infra mirroring to move to voting job
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ DEFAULT_SKIP_TESTS=(
     # in the gate.  Keep them in a -nv job until we can figure out
     # better caching for the images
     opensuse/build-succeeds
-    opensuse/opensuse423-build-succeeds
+    opensuse/opensuse151-build-succeeds
     centos7/build-succeeds
     debian/build-succeeds
     fedora/build-succeeds