diff --git a/install_jenkins_slave.sh b/install_jenkins_slave.sh
index a12aa352b9..77a9afe4b6 100755
--- a/install_jenkins_slave.sh
+++ b/install_jenkins_slave.sh
@@ -22,7 +22,9 @@ if cat /etc/*release | grep "Red Hat" &> /dev/null; then
 	yum update -y
 	# NOTE: enable the optional-rpms channel (if not already enabled)
 	# yum-config-manager --enable rhel-6-server-optional-rpms
-	yum install -y git puppet
+
+        # NOTE: we preinstall lsb_release to ensure facter sets lsbdistcodename
+	yum install -y redhat-lsb-core git puppet
 
 else #defaults to Ubuntu
 
diff --git a/install_puppet.sh b/install_puppet.sh
index d890795ee9..e1cf2f921c 100755
--- a/install_puppet.sh
+++ b/install_puppet.sh
@@ -26,7 +26,9 @@ if cat /etc/*release | grep "Red Hat" &> /dev/null; then
     yum update -y
     # NOTE: enable the optional-rpms channel (if not already enabled)
     # yum-config-manager --enable rhel-6-server-optional-rpms
-    yum install -y git puppet-2.7.20-1.el6.noarch
+
+    # NOTE: we preinstall lsb_release to ensure facter sets lsbdistcodename
+    yum install -y redhat-lsb-core git puppet-2.7.20-1.el6.noarch
 else
     #defaults to Ubuntu
     cat > /etc/apt/preferences.d/00-puppet.pref <<EOF