diff --git a/package.xml b/package.xml
index 95da605e..24ce93a1 100644
--- a/package.xml
+++ b/package.xml
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
   Bloom does not support group_depend so entries below duplicate the group rmw_implementation_packages.
   This ensures that binary packages have support for all of these rmw impl. enabled.
   -->
-  <build_depend>rmw_connextdds</build_depend>
   <build_depend>rmw_cyclonedds_cpp</build_depend>
   <build_depend>rmw_fastrtps_cpp</build_depend>
   <build_depend>rmw_fastrtps_dynamic_cpp</build_depend>
diff --git a/rpm/template.spec.em b/rpm/template.spec.em
index b71a0364..ef97ff9c 100644
--- a/rpm/template.spec.em
+++ b/rpm/template.spec.em
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+@{
+# Connext is not available for RHEL - ignore any deps related to it
+BuildDepends = [d for d in BuildDepends if 'connext' not in d]
+}@
 %bcond_without tests
 %bcond_without weak_deps