diff --git a/deckhand/__init__.py b/deckhand/__init__.py
index e69de29b..7faf876b 100644
--- a/deckhand/__init__.py
+++ b/deckhand/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+import pylibyaml  # noqa: F401  # patch pyyaml to use libyaml bindings
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 20d6bedd..74369da2 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ pbr==5.1.0
 PasteDeploy==1.5.2
 Paste==3.0.1
 psycopg2-binary==2.8.4
+pylibyaml~=0.1
 pyyaml~=5.1
 
 # TODO(alanmeadows)
diff --git a/test-requirements.txt b/test-requirements.txt
index 647c2616..528a0263 100644
--- a/test-requirements.txt
+++ b/test-requirements.txt
@@ -17,3 +17,4 @@ pifpaf==2.1.2
 oslotest==3.7.0
 yq>=2.7.2
 tox
+pylibyaml~=0.1