diff --git a/ansible-scylla-loader/tasks/RedHat.yml b/ansible-scylla-loader/tasks/RedHat.yml
index 326e2ce2..febb21b1 100644
--- a/ansible-scylla-loader/tasks/RedHat.yml
+++ b/ansible-scylla-loader/tasks/RedHat.yml
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 
     - name: Install the ELRepo kernel
       yum:
-        name: kernel-ml
+        name: kernel-lt
         state: present
         lock_timeout: 60
   when: elrepo_kernel == True and (ansible_distribution == "CentOS" or ansible_distribution == "RedHat")
@@ -96,4 +96,3 @@
     state: latest
     lock_timeout: 60
   become: true
-
diff --git a/ansible-scylla-node/tasks/RedHat.yml b/ansible-scylla-node/tasks/RedHat.yml
index 9137360c..1a91bca6 100644
--- a/ansible-scylla-node/tasks/RedHat.yml
+++ b/ansible-scylla-node/tasks/RedHat.yml
@@ -26,11 +26,14 @@
         name: "https://www.elrepo.org/elrepo-release-{{ ansible_facts['distribution_major_version'] }}.el{{ ansible_facts['distribution_major_version'] }}.elrepo.noarch.rpm"
         state: present
 
+    - name: enable epel kernels
+      shell: |
+        yum-config-manager --enable elrepo-kernel
+
     - name: Install ELRepo mainline kernel
       yum:
-        name: kernel-ml
+        name: kernel-lt
         state: present
-        enablerepo: elrepo-kernel
         lock_timeout: 60
       register: kernel_installed
 
@@ -54,6 +57,11 @@
       command: grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg
       when: kernel_installed.changed
 
+    - name: Needs restarting?
+      command: needs-restarting -r
+      register: restart_required
+      ignore_errors: yes
+
     - name: Reboot host and wait for it to restart
       reboot:
         msg: "Reboot initiated by Ansible"
@@ -62,7 +70,15 @@
         pre_reboot_delay: 0
         post_reboot_delay: 30
         test_command: whoami
-      when: reboot_after_kernel_upgrade|bool and kernel_installed.changed
+      when: (reboot_after_kernel_upgrade|bool and kernel_installed.changed) or restart_required.rc == 1
+
+    - name: Remove old kernels
+      package:
+        name:
+          - kernel
+          - kernel-ml
+        state: absent
+
   when: elrepo_kernel|bool and install_type == 'online' and (ansible_distribution == "CentOS" or ansible_distribution == "RedHat")
   become: true