diff --git a/tests/check-config.sh b/tests/check-config.sh
index 92d4f2c59d..c8c172c7cb 100755
--- a/tests/check-config.sh
+++ b/tests/check-config.sh
@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@ function check_config {
                 -not -name kolla-build.conf \
                 -not -name passwords.yml \
                 -not -name passwords.yml.old \
-                -not -name sources.list)
+                -not -name sources.list \
+                -not -name template_overrides.j2)
     do
         mode=$(sudo stat -c %a $f)
         owner=$(sudo stat -c %U:%G $f)
diff --git a/tests/run.yml b/tests/run.yml
index 9c9ea9cd6f..235ab59a1f 100644
--- a/tests/run.yml
+++ b/tests/run.yml
@@ -44,6 +44,12 @@
         - item.branch == zuul.branch
       with_items: "{{ zuul['items'] }}"
 
+    # NOTE(yoctozepto): required to template template_overrides.j2 for Zuul
+    - name: Include kolla Zuul vars if building new images
+      include_vars:
+        file: "{{ zuul.executor.work_root }}/src/opendev.org/openstack/kolla/tests/vars/zuul.yml"
+      when: need_build_image  # only then kolla sources are available (and used)
+
     # NOTE(mgoddard): This only affects the remote copy of the repo, not the
     # one on the executor.
     - name: checkout the previous kolla-ansible branch
@@ -62,6 +68,13 @@
         mode: 0777
       become: true
 
+    # NOTE(yoctozepto): required to customize kolla to use local mirrors
+    - name: Template template_overrides.j2
+      template:
+        src: "{{ zuul.executor.work_root }}/src/opendev.org/openstack/kolla/tests/templates/template_overrides.j2"
+        dest: /etc/kolla/template_overrides.j2
+      when: need_build_image  # only then kolla sources are available (and used)
+
     # Use the initial repo to generate config files. For upgrade jobs, this
     # repo is only available on the remote node, so use the remote-template
     # role.
diff --git a/tools/setup_gate.sh b/tools/setup_gate.sh
index 0d0a53817d..786256ee0a 100755
--- a/tools/setup_gate.sh
+++ b/tools/setup_gate.sh
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ profile = gate
 registry = 127.0.0.1:4000
 push = true
 logs_dir = /tmp/logs/build
+template_override = /etc/kolla/template_overrides.j2
 
 [profiles]
 gate = ${GATE_IMAGES}