diff --git a/distributedcloud/dcmanager/common/prestage.py b/distributedcloud/dcmanager/common/prestage.py
index 68384c246..761400822 100644
--- a/distributedcloud/dcmanager/common/prestage.py
+++ b/distributedcloud/dcmanager/common/prestage.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Copyright (c) 2022 Wind River Systems, Inc.
+# Copyright (c) 2023 Wind River Systems, Inc.
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -58,6 +58,8 @@ ANSIBLE_PRESTAGE_SUBCLOUD_IMAGES_PLAYBOOK = \
     "/usr/share/ansible/stx-ansible/playbooks/prestage_images.yml"
 ANSIBLE_PRESTAGE_INVENTORY_SUFFIX = '_prestage_inventory.yml'
 
+LAST_SW_VERSION_IN_CENTOS = "22.06"
+
 
 def is_deploy_status_prestage(deploy_status):
     return deploy_status in (consts.PRESTAGE_STATE_PREPARE,
@@ -315,9 +317,18 @@ def _sync_run_prestage_prepare_packages(context, subcloud, payload):
     LOG.info("Prepare prestage ansible successful")
 
 
+# TODO(Shrikumar): Cleanup this function, especially the comparison for
+# software versions.
+# Rationale: In CentOS, prestage_prepare is required; in Debian, it is not.
+
+
 @utils.synchronized('prestage-prepare-packages', external=True)
 def prestage_prepare(context, subcloud, payload):
     """Run the prepare prestage packages playbook if required."""
+    if SW_VERSION > LAST_SW_VERSION_IN_CENTOS:
+        LOG.info("Skipping prestage package preparation in Debian")
+        return
+
     if is_upgrade(subcloud.software_version):
         if not os.path.exists(PRESTAGE_PREPARATION_COMPLETED_FILE):
             _sync_run_prestage_prepare_packages(context, subcloud, payload)
diff --git a/distributedcloud/dcmanager/tests/unit/manager/test_subcloud_manager.py b/distributedcloud/dcmanager/tests/unit/manager/test_subcloud_manager.py
index d3aa3b830..bf6d58140 100644
--- a/distributedcloud/dcmanager/tests/unit/manager/test_subcloud_manager.py
+++ b/distributedcloud/dcmanager/tests/unit/manager/test_subcloud_manager.py
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ from dcmanager.tests.unit.common import fake_subcloud
 from dcmanager.tests import utils
 from tsconfig.tsconfig import SW_VERSION
 
+LAST_SW_VERSION_IN_CENTOS = "22.06"
+
 
 FAKE_ADMIN_USER_ID = 1
 FAKE_SYSINV_USER_ID = 2
@@ -2067,20 +2069,20 @@ class TestSubcloudManager(base.DCManagerTestCase):
     @mock.patch.object(prestage, 'prestage_packages')
     @mock.patch.object(cutils, 'delete_subcloud_inventory')
     @mock.patch.object(prestage, '_run_ansible')
-    def test_prestage_subcloud_prestage_prepare(self,
-                                                mock_run_ansible,
-                                                mock_delete_subcloud_inventory,
-                                                mock_prestage_packages,
-                                                mock_prestage_images,
-                                                mock_prestage_complete):
+    def test_prestage_subcloud_prestage_prepare_centos(self,
+                                                       mock_run_ansible,
+                                                       mock_delete_subcloud_inventory,
+                                                       mock_prestage_packages,
+                                                       mock_prestage_images,
+                                                       mock_prestage_complete):
 
         values = copy.copy(FAKE_PRESTAGE_PAYLOAD)
         subcloud = self.create_subcloud_static(self.ctx,
                                                name='subcloud1',
                                                deploy_status=consts.DEPLOY_STATE_NONE)
-
+        current_sw_version = prestage.SW_VERSION
+        prestage.SW_VERSION = LAST_SW_VERSION_IN_CENTOS
         prestage._prestage_standalone_thread(self.ctx, subcloud, payload=values)
-
         mock_run_ansible.return_value = None
         mock_prestage_packages.assert_called_once_with(self.ctx, subcloud, values)
         mock_prestage_images.assert_called_once_with(self.ctx, subcloud, values)
@@ -2089,9 +2091,38 @@ class TestSubcloudManager(base.DCManagerTestCase):
 
         # Verify that subcloud has the correct deploy status
         updated_subcloud = db_api.subcloud_get_by_name(self.ctx, subcloud.name)
+        prestage.SW_VERSION = current_sw_version
         self.assertEqual(consts.PRESTAGE_STATE_PREPARE,
                          updated_subcloud.deploy_status)
 
+    @mock.patch.object(prestage, 'prestage_complete')
+    @mock.patch.object(prestage, 'prestage_images')
+    @mock.patch.object(prestage, 'prestage_packages')
+    @mock.patch.object(cutils, 'delete_subcloud_inventory')
+    @mock.patch.object(prestage, '_run_ansible')
+    def test_prestage_subcloud_prestage_prepare_debian(self,
+                                                       mock_run_ansible,
+                                                       mock_delete_subcloud_inventory,
+                                                       mock_prestage_packages,
+                                                       mock_prestage_images,
+                                                       mock_prestage_complete):
+
+        values = copy.copy(FAKE_PRESTAGE_PAYLOAD)
+        subcloud = self.create_subcloud_static(self.ctx,
+                                               name='subcloud1',
+                                               deploy_status=consts.DEPLOY_STATE_NONE)
+        prestage._prestage_standalone_thread(self.ctx, subcloud, payload=values)
+        mock_run_ansible.return_value = None
+        mock_prestage_packages.assert_called_once_with(self.ctx, subcloud, values)
+        mock_prestage_images.assert_called_once_with(self.ctx, subcloud, values)
+        mock_prestage_complete.assert_called_once_with(self.ctx, subcloud.id)
+        mock_delete_subcloud_inventory.return_value = None
+
+        # Verify that subcloud has the correct deploy status
+        updated_subcloud = db_api.subcloud_get_by_name(self.ctx, subcloud.name)
+        self.assertEqual(consts.DEPLOY_STATE_NONE,
+                         updated_subcloud.deploy_status)
+
     def test_get_cached_regionone_data(self):
         mock_keystone_client = FakeKeystoneClient()
         mock_sysinv_client = FakeSysinvClient()