diff --git a/openstack-rabbitmq-upgrade.groovy b/openstack-rabbitmq-upgrade.groovy
index aabdafc..bc252da 100644
--- a/openstack-rabbitmq-upgrade.groovy
+++ b/openstack-rabbitmq-upgrade.groovy
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@
  * No service downtime
  * No workload downtime''',
     'Launched actions': '''
+ * Refresh pillars on the target nodes.
+ * Apply the 'linux.system.repo' state on the target nodes.
  * Verify API, perform basic CRUD operations for services.
  * Verify rabbitmq is running and operational.''',
     'State result': 'Basic checks around services API are passed.'
@@ -114,6 +116,8 @@
     for (target in upgradeTargets){
       common.stageWrapper(upgradeStageMap, "Pre upgrade", target, interactive) {
         openstack.runOpenStackUpgradePhase(env, target, 'pre')
+        salt.runSaltProcessStep(env, target, 'saltutil.refresh_pillar', [], null, true)
+        salt.enforceState(env, target, 'linux.system.repo')
         openstack.runOpenStackUpgradePhase(env, target, 'verify')
       }
     }