diff --git a/playbooks/roles/edxapp/defaults/main.yml b/playbooks/roles/edxapp/defaults/main.yml
index a135c1d38..fe09a8c3c 100644
--- a/playbooks/roles/edxapp/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/playbooks/roles/edxapp/defaults/main.yml
@@ -572,6 +572,9 @@ EDXAPP_PRIVATE_REQUIREMENTS:
     # XBlocks associated with the LabXchange project
     - name: git+https://github.com/open-craft/labxchange-xblocks.git@a0a8a8dad13199014d4bb29cee416289880bde0b#egg=labxchange-xblocks
       extra_args: -e
+    # forum - currently pointing to ulmo but needs an upgrade when in verawood
+    - name: git+https://github.com/edx/forum.git@release-ulmo#egg=openedx-forum
+      extra_args: -e
     # Caliper and xAPI event routing plugin
     - name: edx-event-routing-backends==5.5.6
     # Other xblocks