diff --git a/nodepool/nb04.opendev.org.yaml b/nodepool/nb04.opendev.org.yaml
index 9c453b98bc..4a5c6ee0a9 100644
--- a/nodepool/nb04.opendev.org.yaml
+++ b/nodepool/nb04.opendev.org.yaml
@@ -332,7 +332,7 @@ diskimages:
 
   - name: ubuntu-bionic-plain
     parent: base-debuntu
-    pause: true
+    pause: false
     elements:
       - ubuntu-minimal
       - cache-devstack
@@ -343,7 +343,7 @@ diskimages:
 
   - name: ubuntu-xenial-plain
     parent: base-debuntu
-    pause: true
+    pause: false
     elements:
       - ubuntu-minimal
       - cache-devstack
diff --git a/nodepool/nodepool.yaml b/nodepool/nodepool.yaml
index 70b97c11eb..a4926f744d 100644
--- a/nodepool/nodepool.yaml
+++ b/nodepool/nodepool.yaml
@@ -329,29 +329,13 @@ diskimages:
 
   ############ Plain images #############
 
+  # NOTE : these only build on nb04; see that configuration file
+
   - name: ubuntu-bionic-plain
-    parent: base-debuntu
-    pause: false
-    elements:
-      - ubuntu-minimal
-      - cache-devstack
-    release: bionic
-    env-vars:
-      DIB_DISTRIBUTION_MIRROR: 'http://mirror.dfw.rax.openstack.org/ubuntu'
-      DIB_DEBIAN_COMPONENTS: 'main,universe'
+    pause: true
 
   - name: ubuntu-xenial-plain
-    parent: base-debuntu
-    pause: false
-    elements:
-      - ubuntu-minimal
-      - cache-devstack
-    release: xenial
-    env-vars:
-      DIB_DISTRIBUTION_MIRROR: 'http://mirror.dfw.rax.openstack.org/ubuntu'
-      DIB_DEBIAN_COMPONENTS: 'main,universe'
-
-  # NOTE : these only build on nb04; see that configuration file
+    pause: true
 
   - name: opensuse-15-plain
     pause: true