diff --git a/roles/copr/backend/files/provision/provision_builder_tasks.yml b/roles/copr/backend/files/provision/provision_builder_tasks.yml
index cb91921727..f92e36d9d5 100644
--- a/roles/copr/backend/files/provision/provision_builder_tasks.yml
+++ b/roles/copr/backend/files/provision/provision_builder_tasks.yml
@@ -44,6 +44,16 @@
   when:
     - prepare_base_image is defined
 
+# NetworkManager-wait-online takes too long on VMS on our hypervisors.  And we
+# don't seem to need hcn-init service triggering that.
+- name: disable hcn-init service on ppc64le which implies NetworkManager-wait-online
+  service:
+    name: hcn-init.service
+    state: stopped
+    enabled: no
+  failed_when: false
+  when: prepare_base_image is defined
+
 - package_facts: manager=auto
 
 - name: install copr-builder and other latest packages