diff --git a/scripts/provision/common.sh b/scripts/provision/common.sh
index 0efe7e63570..1431712b02e 100755
--- a/scripts/provision/common.sh
+++ b/scripts/provision/common.sh
@@ -2,6 +2,16 @@
 
 # Add any logic that is common to both the peer and docker environments here
 
+# Use the mirror protocol for apt so that geographically close mirrors are automatically chosen
+source /etc/lsb-release
+
+cat <<EOF > /etc/apt/sources.list
+deb mirror://mirrors.ubuntu.com/mirrors.txt $DISTRIB_CODENAME main restricted universe multiverse
+deb mirror://mirrors.ubuntu.com/mirrors.txt $DISTRIB_CODENAME-updates main restricted universe multiverse
+deb mirror://mirrors.ubuntu.com/mirrors.txt $DISTRIB_CODENAME-backports main restricted universe multiverse
+deb mirror://mirrors.ubuntu.com/mirrors.txt $DISTRIB_CODENAME-security main restricted universe multiverse
+EOF
+
 apt-get update -qq
 
 # Used by CHAINTOOL