diff --git a/vars/debian.yml b/vars/debian.yml
index bf31589c..18ef5014 100644
--- a/vars/debian.yml
+++ b/vars/debian.yml
@@ -27,6 +27,4 @@ swift_distro_packages:
   - rsync
   - libssl-dev
 
-swift_syslog_user_name: syslog
-swift_syslog_group_name: syslog
 swift_rsync_service_name: rsync
diff --git a/vars/redhat-7.yml b/vars/redhat-7.yml
index 075c7529..5695dea4 100644
--- a/vars/redhat-7.yml
+++ b/vars/redhat-7.yml
@@ -27,7 +27,5 @@ swift_distro_packages:
   - cronie
   - cronie-anacron
 
-swift_syslog_user_name: root
-swift_syslog_group_name: root
 swift_rsync_service_name: rsyncd
 rdo_package: "https://rdoproject.org/repos/rdo-release.rpm"