diff --git a/patterns-base.changes b/patterns-base.changes
index e38ca1a..0f59817 100644
--- a/patterns-base.changes
+++ b/patterns-base.changes
@@ -170,6 +170,12 @@ Tue Feb 16 09:36:51 UTC 2021 - Thorsten Kukuk <kukuk@suse.com>
 
 - Suggest ed to prefer it over busybox-ed
 
+-------------------------------------------------------------------
+Sat Jan 30 16:44:32 UTC 2021 - Neal Gompa <ngompa13@gmail.com>
+
+- Downgrade zypper to Recommends in the base pattern so buildroots
+  and appliance builds can go without it when desired
+
 -------------------------------------------------------------------
 Tue Jan 26 09:20:12 UTC 2021 - Thorsten Kukuk <kukuk@suse.com>
 
diff --git a/patterns-base.spec b/patterns-base.spec
index 73c267a..978f562 100644
--- a/patterns-base.spec
+++ b/patterns-base.spec
@@ -138,7 +138,9 @@ Requires:       rpm
 Requires:       system-user-nobody
 Requires:       systemd
 Requires:       util-linux
-Requires:       zypper
+# We don't necessarily want zypper in specific minimal environments
+# e.g. buildroots and locked down appliance environments
+Recommends:     zypper
 %if 0%{?sle_version}
 Recommends:     SUSEConnect
 Recommends:     rollback-helper