diff --git a/obs-service-format_spec_file.changes b/obs-service-format_spec_file.changes
index b66f81d..0729f76 100644
--- a/obs-service-format_spec_file.changes
+++ b/obs-service-format_spec_file.changes
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+-------------------------------------------------------------------
+Mon Dec 19 08:40:02 UTC 2011 - coolo@suse.com
+
+- put groups in subpackages unconditionally to leave sle11 support
+  intact
+
 -------------------------------------------------------------------
 Thu Dec 15 13:59:55 UTC 2011 - coolo@suse.com
 
diff --git a/prepare_spec b/prepare_spec
index 1b3a643..b100e5a 100644
--- a/prepare_spec
+++ b/prepare_spec
@@ -682,6 +682,8 @@ while ($oldspec[0] eq "XXXBLANKLINE") {
 
 my $license_unique = !grep { $_ ne $main_license } values %seen_licenses;
 my $groups_unique = !grep { $_ ne $main_group } values %seen_groups;
+# we need to have unique groups in the spec file as long as we support SLE11 ;(
+$groups_unique = 0;
 my $first_summary = 1;
 
 my $line;