diff --git a/tasks/yumrepos.yml b/tasks/yumrepos.yml
index 36ed0b2cf6..43a47fc181 100644
--- a/tasks/yumrepos.yml
+++ b/tasks/yumrepos.yml
@@ -148,3 +148,19 @@
   - config
   - packages
   - yumrepos
+
+# when batcave01 is on a newer ansible we won't need python3-dnf but
+# we *will* need python3-rpm (package_facts fails without it)
+- name: Ensure that python3-dnf is installed (needed till ansible on batcave01 supports dnf5)
+  when: "ansible_distribution == 'Fedora' and ansible_distribution_major_version|int > 40 and ansible_cmdline.ostree is not defined"
+  block:
+    - name: Check whether python3-dnf is installed
+      ansible.builtin.command: "rpm -q python3-dnf"
+      register: p3dnf
+      failed_when: "1 != 1"
+      changed_when: "1 != 1"
+      check_mode: no
+
+    - name: Install python3-dnf with direct dnf command
+      ansible.builtin.command: "dnf -y install python3-dnf"
+      when: "p3dnf.rc != 0"