diff --git a/playbooks/roles/pip3/tasks/main.yaml b/playbooks/roles/pip3/tasks/main.yaml
index 091e3e60fa..d1751d2d17 100644
--- a/playbooks/roles/pip3/tasks/main.yaml
+++ b/playbooks/roles/pip3/tasks/main.yaml
@@ -39,3 +39,13 @@
   loop:
     - pip
     - virtualenv
+
+# TODO(frickler): pbr is being installed as a workaround for issues
+# with eavesdrop running on xenial with py27/35. It can be dropped
+# once the host has been upgraded
+- name: Install latest pbr on xenial
+  pip:
+    name: pbr
+    state: latest
+    executable: pip3
+  when: ansible_distribution_release == 'xenial'