diff --git a/modules/openstack_project/manifests/params.pp b/modules/openstack_project/manifests/params.pp
index 70240c14c7..345e6d1628 100644
--- a/modules/openstack_project/manifests/params.pp
+++ b/modules/openstack_project/manifests/params.pp
@@ -7,10 +7,12 @@ class openstack_project::params {
     'Redhat': {
       $packages = ['puppet', 'python-setuptools', 'wget']
       $user_packages = ['byobu', 'emacs-nox']
+      $update_pkg_list_cmd = ''
     }
     'Debian', 'Ubuntu': {
       $packages = ['puppet', 'python-setuptools', 'wget']
       $user_packages = ['byobu', 'emacs23-nox']
+      $update_pkg_list_cmd = 'apt-get update >/dev/null 2>&1;'
     }
     default: {
       fail("Unsupported osfamily: ${::osfamily} The 'openstack_project' module only supports osfamily Ubuntu or Redhat(slaves only).")
diff --git a/modules/openstack_project/manifests/puppet_cron.pp b/modules/openstack_project/manifests/puppet_cron.pp
index 5ed8a99ddd..2fa0bed039 100644
--- a/modules/openstack_project/manifests/puppet_cron.pp
+++ b/modules/openstack_project/manifests/puppet_cron.pp
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ class openstack_project::puppet_cron($ensure = present)
     ensure      => $ensure,
     user        => 'root',
     minute      => '*/15',
-    command     => 'apt-get update >/dev/null 2>&1 ; sleep $((RANDOM\%600)) && puppet agent --test >>/var/log/manifest.log',
+    command     => "${::openstack_project::params::update_pkg_list_cmd}sleep $((RANDOM\%600)) && puppet agent --test >>/var/log/manifest.log",
     environment => 'PATH=/var/lib/gems/1.8/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin',
   }
   logrotate::file { 'updatepuppet':