diff --git a/templates/prep-scripts/ubuntu_18_prep.sh.j2 b/templates/prep-scripts/ubuntu_18_prep.sh.j2
index bf7e5a65..3b4b1c5e 100644
--- a/templates/prep-scripts/ubuntu_18_prep.sh.j2
+++ b/templates/prep-scripts/ubuntu_18_prep.sh.j2
@@ -12,8 +12,11 @@ apt-get remove -y --purge snap* lxc* lxd* resolvconf* || true
 
 # Update base distribution
 apt-get update
-apt-get install -y -o Dpkg::Options::="--force-confdef" -o Dpkg::Options::="--force-confold" --force-yes gnupg
 
+apt-get install -y -o Dpkg::Options::="--force-confdef" -o Dpkg::Options::="--force-confold" --force-yes eatmydata
+export LD_PRELOAD=/usr/lib/{{ ansible_architecture }}-linux-gnu/libeatmydata.so
+
+apt-get install -y -o Dpkg::Options::="--force-confdef" -o Dpkg::Options::="--force-confold" --force-yes gnupg
 apt-get upgrade -y -o Dpkg::Options::="--force-confdef" -o Dpkg::Options::="--force-confold" --force-yes
 apt-get install -y -o Dpkg::Options::="--force-confdef" -o Dpkg::Options::="--force-confold" --force-yes {{ lxc_cache_distro_packages | join(' ') }}
 apt-get upgrade -y -o Dpkg::Options::="--force-confdef" -o Dpkg::Options::="--force-confold" --force-yes