diff --git a/templates/lxc-centos.in b/templates/lxc-centos.in
index 1588042eb..b489e0e15 100644
--- a/templates/lxc-centos.in
+++ b/templates/lxc-centos.in
@@ -413,10 +413,10 @@ download_centos()
 
     # download a mini centos into a cache
     echo "Downloading centos minimal ..."
-    if [ $release -le 5 ];then
-        YUM="yum --installroot $INSTALL_ROOT -y --nogpgcheck"
-    else
+    if yum -h | grep -q 'releasever=RELEASEVER'; then
         YUM="yum --installroot $INSTALL_ROOT -y --nogpgcheck --releasever=$release"
+    else
+        YUM="yum --installroot $INSTALL_ROOT -y --nogpgcheck"
     fi
     PKG_LIST="yum initscripts passwd rsyslog vim-minimal openssh-server openssh-clients dhclient chkconfig rootfiles policycoreutils"