diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/disable-list-extend-3a9547de9034f9ba.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/disable-list-extend-3a9547de9034f9ba.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5d414c54
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/disable-list-extend-3a9547de9034f9ba.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+---
+features:
+  - Yaml files used for ceilometer configuration will now allow a deployer to
+    override a given list. If an override is provided that matches an already
+    defined list in one of the ceilometer default yaml files the entire list
+    will be replaced by the provided override. Previously, a nested lists of
+    lists within the default ceilometer configration files would extend should
+    a deployer provide an override matching an existing pipeline. The
+    extension of the defaults had a high probability to cause undesirable
+    outcomes and was very unpredictable.
diff --git a/tasks/ceilometer_post_install.yml b/tasks/ceilometer_post_install.yml
index fe5925cb..d189d1d9 100644
--- a/tasks/ceilometer_post_install.yml
+++ b/tasks/ceilometer_post_install.yml
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
     mode: "0644"
     config_overrides: "{{ item.config_overrides }}"
     config_type: "{{ item.config_type }}"
+    list_extend: "{{ item.list_extend | default(omit) }}"
   with_items:
     - src: "ceilometer.conf.j2"
       dest: "/etc/ceilometer/ceilometer.conf"
@@ -41,26 +42,32 @@
       dest: "/etc/ceilometer/event_pipeline.yaml"
       config_overrides: "{{ ceilometer_event_pipeline_yaml_overrides }}"
       config_type: "yaml"
+      list_extend: false
     - src: "event_definitions.yaml.j2"
       dest: "/etc/ceilometer/event_definitions.yaml"
       config_overrides: "{{ ceilometer_event_definitions_yaml_overrides }}"
       config_type: "yaml"
+      list_extend: false
     - src: "pipeline.yaml.j2"
       dest: "/etc/ceilometer/pipeline.yaml"
       config_overrides: "{{ ceilometer_pipeline_yaml_overrides }}"
       config_type: "yaml"
+      list_extend: false
     - src: "gnocchi_resources.yaml.j2"
       dest: "/etc/ceilometer/gnocchi_resources.yaml"
       config_overrides: "{{ ceilometer_gnocci_resources_yaml_overrides }}"
       config_type: "yaml"
+      list_extend: false
     - src: "osprofiler_event_definitions.yaml.j2"
       dest: "/etc/ceilometer/osprofiler_event_definitions.yaml"
       config_overrides: "{{ ceilometer_osprofiler_event_definitions_yaml_overrides }}"
       config_type: "yaml"
+      list_extend: false
     - src: "loadbalancer_v2_meter_definitions.yaml.j2"
       dest: "/etc/ceilometer/loadbalancer_v2_meter_definitions.yaml"
       config_overrides: "{{ ceilometer_loadbalancer_v2_meter_definitions_yaml_overrides }}"
       config_type: "yaml"
+      list_extend: false
     - src: "policy.json.j2"
       dest: "/etc/ceilometer/policy.json"
       config_overrides: "{{ ceilometer_policy_overrides }}"