diff --git a/libvirt.spec.in b/libvirt.spec.in
index 0e4a84c98c..5e1e1df3f0 100644
--- a/libvirt.spec.in
+++ b/libvirt.spec.in
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@
 %endif
 
 # Enable libssh transport for new enough distros
-%if 0%{?fedora}
+%if 0%{?fedora} || 0%{?rhel} > 7
     %define with_libssh 0%{!?_without_libssh:1}
 %endif