diff --git a/tier-0/manifest.yaml b/tier-0/manifest.yaml
index 8da4235..117b144 100644
--- a/tier-0/manifest.yaml
+++ b/tier-0/manifest.yaml
@@ -56,6 +56,8 @@ include:
   - basic-fixes.yaml
 
 packages:
+  # needed for building derived container images
+  - dnf
   # Even in tier-0, we have this.  If you don't want SELinux today, you'll need
   # to build a custom image.
   - selinux-policy-targeted
diff --git a/tier-1/manifest.yaml b/tier-1/manifest.yaml
index fd483bb..2242b17 100644
--- a/tier-1/manifest.yaml
+++ b/tier-1/manifest.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ recommends: true
 include:
   - manifest-tier-0.yaml
   - bootable-rpm-ostree.yaml
-  - rpm-packaging.yaml
   - podman.yaml
   - firmware.yaml
   - networking-tools.yaml
diff --git a/tier-1/rpm-packaging.yaml b/tier-1/rpm-packaging.yaml
deleted file mode 100644
index 060c205..0000000
--- a/tier-1/rpm-packaging.yaml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
-# A full dnf experience at build time, but right now
-# `dnf update` *client side* doesn't do much helpful...
-packages:
-  - dnf