diff --git a/examples/playbook.yml b/examples/playbook.yml
index 3ffb6a7..fd8c941 100644
--- a/examples/playbook.yml
+++ b/examples/playbook.yml
@@ -8,4 +8,4 @@
     internal_lb_vip_address: 192.168.0.1
     heat_galera_address: "{{ internal_lb_vip_address }}"
     keystone_admin_user_name: admin
-    keystone_admin_tenant_name: admin
\ No newline at end of file
+    keystone_admin_tenant_name: admin
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/package-list-name-changes-b484be7645bbe66a.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/package-list-name-changes-b484be7645bbe66a.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bb16e84
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/package-list-name-changes-b484be7645bbe66a.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+---
+upgrade:
+  - The variable ``heat_apt_packages`` has been renamed to
+    ``heat_distro_packages``.
diff --git a/tasks/install-apt.yml b/tasks/install-apt.yml
index 37fffbb..168bea1 100644
--- a/tasks/install-apt.yml
+++ b/tasks/install-apt.yml
@@ -34,4 +34,4 @@
   until: install_packages|success
   retries: 5
   delay: 2
-  with_items: "{{ heat_apt_packages }}"
+  with_items: "{{ heat_distro_packages }}"
diff --git a/tests/test-container-create.yml b/tests/test-container-create.yml
index 6e2fe83..efca943 100644
--- a/tests/test-container-create.yml
+++ b/tests/test-container-create.yml
@@ -51,4 +51,4 @@
         port: "{{ ansible_ssh_port | default('22') }}"
         host: "{{ ansible_ssh_host | default(inventory_hostname) }}"
         search_regex: OpenSSH
-        delay: 1
\ No newline at end of file
+        delay: 1
diff --git a/vars/ubuntu-14.04.yml b/vars/ubuntu-14.04.yml
index 4a783c2..7287577 100644
--- a/vars/ubuntu-14.04.yml
+++ b/vars/ubuntu-14.04.yml
@@ -16,6 +16,6 @@
 ## APT Cache options
 cache_timeout: 600
 
-heat_apt_packages:
+heat_distro_packages:
   - rsync
   - libxslt1.1
diff --git a/vars/ubuntu-16.04.yml b/vars/ubuntu-16.04.yml
index 4a783c2..7287577 100644
--- a/vars/ubuntu-16.04.yml
+++ b/vars/ubuntu-16.04.yml
@@ -16,6 +16,6 @@
 ## APT Cache options
 cache_timeout: 600
 
-heat_apt_packages:
+heat_distro_packages:
   - rsync
   - libxslt1.1