diff --git a/tools/appsre-worker-packer-container.sh b/tools/appsre-worker-packer-container.sh
index 35c4a8b52..7b6f77e83 100755
--- a/tools/appsre-worker-packer-container.sh
+++ b/tools/appsre-worker-packer-container.sh
@@ -19,4 +19,5 @@ image_users = [$PACKER_IMAGE_USERS]
 EOF2
 fi
 
-/usr/bin/packer build "$PACKER_ONLY_EXCEPT" /osbuild-composer/templates/packer
+# disable parallel builds as it fails consistently while waiting for AMI
+/usr/bin/packer build -parallel-builds=1 "$PACKER_ONLY_EXCEPT" /osbuild-composer/templates/packer