diff --git a/spread.yaml b/spread.yaml
index 0bc27741a..dc83ac276 100644
--- a/spread.yaml
+++ b/spread.yaml
@@ -137,16 +137,10 @@ prepare: |
         sed -i -E '/^Components:/ { /(^| )universe( |$)/! s/$/ universe/ }' "$ubuntu_sources"
       fi
     fi
-
-    tempfile="$(mktemp)"
-    if ! apt-get update > "$tempfile" 2>&1; then
-        cat "$tempfile"
-        exit 1
-    fi
   fi
 
-  tests.pkgs install snapd
-  tests.pkgs install unzip
+  # tests.pkgs install runs apt-get update, so install both packages in one call.
+  tests.pkgs install snapd unzip
 
   snap wait system seed.loaded
 
diff --git a/tests/spread/dependencies/strict-dependencies/task.yaml b/tests/spread/dependencies/strict-dependencies/task.yaml
index d488a525b..ffbed3227 100644
--- a/tests/spread/dependencies/strict-dependencies/task.yaml
+++ b/tests/spread/dependencies/strict-dependencies/task.yaml
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 summary: ensure that a charm with strict dependencies can build.
 
-prepare: |
-  tests.pkgs install unzip
-
 restore: |
   pushd charm
   charmcraft clean
diff --git a/tests/spread/hooks/configure/task.yaml b/tests/spread/hooks/configure/task.yaml
index 62451137f..506e0eb54 100644
--- a/tests/spread/hooks/configure/task.yaml
+++ b/tests/spread/hooks/configure/task.yaml
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ include:
   - tests/
 
 prepare: |
-  tests.pkgs install unzip
   charmcraft init --project-dir=charm
 
 restore: |
diff --git a/tests/spread/hooks/remove/task.yaml b/tests/spread/hooks/remove/task.yaml
index cdbaef6bc..fdf33f72c 100644
--- a/tests/spread/hooks/remove/task.yaml
+++ b/tests/spread/hooks/remove/task.yaml
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ include:
   - tests/
 
 prepare: |
-  tests.pkgs install unzip
   charmcraft init --project-dir=charm
 
 restore: |
diff --git a/tests/spread/smoketests/different-dependencies/task.yaml b/tests/spread/smoketests/different-dependencies/task.yaml
index 26c518c7d..47d6e6173 100644
--- a/tests/spread/smoketests/different-dependencies/task.yaml
+++ b/tests/spread/smoketests/different-dependencies/task.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ include:
   - tests/
 
 prepare: |
-  tests.pkgs install unzip
   snap install --devmode --channel=v4/stable yq
   charmcraft init --project-dir=charm
   cd charm
diff --git a/tests/spread/smoketests/metafiles-bad-yaml-unenforced/task.yaml b/tests/spread/smoketests/metafiles-bad-yaml-unenforced/task.yaml
index 600075872..053a35e7d 100644
--- a/tests/spread/smoketests/metafiles-bad-yaml-unenforced/task.yaml
+++ b/tests/spread/smoketests/metafiles-bad-yaml-unenforced/task.yaml
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ include:
   - tests/
 
 prepare: |
-  tests.pkgs install unzip
   charmcraft init --project-dir=charm
   rm -f charm/metadata.yaml
   rm -f charm/config.yaml
diff --git a/tests/spread/smoketests/metafiles-multiple-yaml/task.yaml b/tests/spread/smoketests/metafiles-multiple-yaml/task.yaml
index 242ef316f..29c5bcc88 100644
--- a/tests/spread/smoketests/metafiles-multiple-yaml/task.yaml
+++ b/tests/spread/smoketests/metafiles-multiple-yaml/task.yaml
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ include:
   - tests/
 
 prepare: |
-  tests.pkgs install unzip
   charmcraft init --project-dir=charm
   rm -f charm/metadata.yaml
   rm -f charm/config.yaml
diff --git a/tests/spread/smoketests/metafiles-unified-charmcraft-yaml/task.yaml b/tests/spread/smoketests/metafiles-unified-charmcraft-yaml/task.yaml
index 43bb9fec1..e1e54de31 100644
--- a/tests/spread/smoketests/metafiles-unified-charmcraft-yaml/task.yaml
+++ b/tests/spread/smoketests/metafiles-unified-charmcraft-yaml/task.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ include:
   - tests/
 
 prepare: |
-  tests.pkgs install unzip
   charmcraft init --project-dir=charm
   rm -f charm/metadata.yaml
   rm -f charm/config.yaml
diff --git a/tests/spread/smoketests/parallel-build/task.yaml b/tests/spread/smoketests/parallel-build/task.yaml
index 8eb2e2078..9ceb39c5e 100644
--- a/tests/spread/smoketests/parallel-build/task.yaml
+++ b/tests/spread/smoketests/parallel-build/task.yaml
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ include:
   - tests/
 
 prepare: |
-  tests.pkgs install unzip
   charmcraft init --project-dir=charm1
   charmcraft init --project-dir=charm2
   charmcraft init --project-dir=charm3
diff --git a/tests/spread/smoketests/pinned-dependencies/task.yaml b/tests/spread/smoketests/pinned-dependencies/task.yaml
index 8098bdc5a..d0374d153 100644
--- a/tests/spread/smoketests/pinned-dependencies/task.yaml
+++ b/tests/spread/smoketests/pinned-dependencies/task.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ include:
   - tests/
 
 prepare: |
-  tests.pkgs install unzip
 restore: |
   charmcraft clean
 
diff --git a/tests/spread/smoketests/remote-build/task.yaml b/tests/spread/smoketests/remote-build/task.yaml
index 6ebc098c1..80a4527ed 100644
--- a/tests/spread/smoketests/remote-build/task.yaml
+++ b/tests/spread/smoketests/remote-build/task.yaml
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ include:
   - tests/
 
 prepare: |
-  tests.pkgs install unzip
   charmcraft init --project-dir=charm
 
   # Workaround for https://github.com/canonical/craft-application/issues/248