diff --git a/.kitchen.yml b/.kitchen.yml
index 6cbdd10f..e2e52156 100644
--- a/.kitchen.yml
+++ b/.kitchen.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ---
 driver:
   name: dokken
-  chef_version: 12.5.1
+  chef_version: 12.14.89
   privileged: true # because Docker and SystemD/Upstart
 
 transport:
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ba8d8f95..d3d54fc4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -29,11 +29,9 @@ It will not:
 
 ## Requirements
 
-* Chef
+* Chef >= 12.14.89
 * Cookbooks:
   * Sander van Zoest sysctl `https://github.com/svanzoest-cookbooks/sysctl`
-  * Chef apt `https://github.com/chef-cookbooks/apt`
-  * Chef yum `https://github.com/chef-cookbooks/yum`
 
 **Note for `sysctl` usage:**
 
diff --git a/metadata.rb b/metadata.rb
index bd53ae57..00421816 100644
--- a/metadata.rb
+++ b/metadata.rb
@@ -30,8 +30,6 @@
 supports 'oracle', '>= 6.4'
 
 depends 'sysctl', '<= 0.7.5'
-depends 'apt', '~> 3.0.0'
-depends 'yum'
 
 recipe 'os-hardening::default', 'harden the operating system (all recipes)'
 recipe 'os-hardening::limits', 'prevent core dumps'
diff --git a/recipes/apt.rb b/recipes/apt.rb
index f6935232..f5efb5de 100644
--- a/recipes/apt.rb
+++ b/recipes/apt.rb
@@ -18,8 +18,6 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 #
 
-include_recipe 'apt'
-
 # apt-get and aptitude check package signatures by default.
 # TODO: could check apt.conf to make sure this hasn't been disabled.
 
diff --git a/recipes/yum.rb b/recipes/yum.rb
index 5dce8b6c..242a6997 100644
--- a/recipes/yum.rb
+++ b/recipes/yum.rb
@@ -18,8 +18,6 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 #
 
-include_recipe 'yum'
-
 # NSA chapter: NSA 2.1.2.3.3
 # verify package signatures
 # search /etc/yum.conf gpgcheck=1