diff --git a/common/feature_flags.py b/common/feature_flags.py
index da7c3c5af..8b5c86829 100644
--- a/common/feature_flags.py
+++ b/common/feature_flags.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 OS_EXPOSURE_REPORT_FEATURE = "vulnerability.os_exposure_report"
 NEW_NOTIFICATIONS_FEATURE = "vulnerability.new_notifications"
 TIMING_LOG_FEATURE = "vulnerability.timing_log"
+RELEASEVER_LOG_FEATURE = "vulnerability.releasever_log"
 
 
 class UnleashClientProxy:
diff --git a/listener/common.py b/listener/common.py
index a856608b1..b444e3200 100644
--- a/listener/common.py
+++ b/listener/common.py
@@ -68,6 +68,28 @@
 LOGGER = get_logger(__name__)
 
 
+def adapt_releasever(releasever: str | None) -> str | None:
+    """
+    Drop RHEL <= 7 numeric releasevers.
+    This suppresses user ``subscription-manager release --set=...``
+    setup, which is intended in this case
+    to match xServer yum repos for x.y releasever.
+    This can be removed once RHEL 7 reaches end of life.
+    """
+    if not releasever:
+        return releasever
+    dot = releasever.find(".")
+    if dot <= 0:
+        return releasever
+    try:
+        major = int(releasever[:dot])
+    except ValueError:
+        return releasever
+    if major > 7:
+        return releasever
+    return None
+
+
 class ImportStatus(flags.Flags):
     """Import to database status."""
 
diff --git a/listener/inventory_processor.py b/listener/inventory_processor.py
index a1cd6385d..f961ff587 100644
--- a/listener/inventory_processor.py
+++ b/listener/inventory_processor.py
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@
 from common.constants import SATELLITE_TAG_KEY
 from common.constants import SATELLITE_TAG_NAMESPACE
 from common.constants import HostType
+from common.feature_flags import RELEASEVER_LOG_FEATURE
+from common.feature_flags import UNLEASH
 from common.logging import get_logger
 from common.mqueue import MQWriter
 from common.mqueue import Partitioners
@@ -38,6 +40,7 @@
 from .common import ImportStatus
 from .common import InventoryMsg
 from .common import InventoryMsgType
+from .common import adapt_releasever
 from .common import reporter_allowed
 from .processor import BaseProcessor
 
@@ -150,7 +153,14 @@ def _parse_system_data(self, msg: InventoryMsg) -> (str, list):
         if installed_packages:
             basearch = system_profile.get("basearch") or system_profile.get("arch")
             rhsm_ver = system_profile.get("rhsm", {}).get("version")
-            releasever = rhsm_ver or system_profile.get("releasever")
+            releasever = adapt_releasever(rhsm_ver or system_profile.get("releasever"))
+            if UNLEASH.is_enabled(RELEASEVER_LOG_FEATURE):
+                LOGGER.info(
+                    "releasever sources: rhsm_ver=%s, sp_releasever=%s, result_releasever=%s",
+                    rhsm_ver,
+                    system_profile.get("releasever"),
+                    releasever,
+                )
 
             repo_list, repo_paths = self._format_repo_list(system_profile.get("yum_repos", ()), basearch=basearch, releasever=releasever)
             modules_list = [{"module_name": m["name"], "module_stream": m["stream"]} for m in system_profile.get("dnf_modules", [])]
diff --git a/listener/listener.py b/listener/listener.py
index dab63bdb6..93aca95b0 100644
--- a/listener/listener.py
+++ b/listener/listener.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 from psycopg_pool import AsyncConnectionPool
 
 from common.database_handler import setup_async_db_pool
+from common.feature_flags import initialize_unleash
 from common.logging import get_logger
 from common.logging import init_logging
 from common.mqueue import MQReader
@@ -250,6 +251,7 @@ async def run(self):
 def main():
     """Main"""
     init_logging()
+    initialize_unleash()
     loop = asyncio.new_event_loop()
 
     loop.run_until_complete(a_ensure_minimal_schema_version())
diff --git a/tests/listener_tests/test_common.py b/tests/listener_tests/test_common.py
index 8edb85dda..8909e7578 100644
--- a/tests/listener_tests/test_common.py
+++ b/tests/listener_tests/test_common.py
@@ -18,3 +18,16 @@ def test_reporter_not_allowed(self):
         msg_dict = {"input": {"host": {"reporter": "invalid"}}}
         res = common.reporter_allowed(msg_dict)
         assert res is False
+
+    def test_adapt_releasever(self):
+        """RHEL <= 7 numeric -> None and stream labels and RHEL 8+ unchanged"""
+        # numeric RHEL <= - None (omit from VMaaS request)
+        assert common.adapt_releasever("7.9") is None
+        assert common.adapt_releasever("6.9") is None
+        # already a stream label - pass through
+        assert common.adapt_releasever("7Server") == "7Server"
+        assert common.adapt_releasever("7Client") == "7Client"
+        # no dot / RHEL 8+ / None - unchanged
+        assert common.adapt_releasever("7") == "7"
+        assert common.adapt_releasever("8.0") == "8.0"
+        assert common.adapt_releasever(None) is None