diff --git a/images/linux/scripts/installers/php.sh b/images/linux/scripts/installers/php.sh
index 511c369d4..a83d0cb46 100644
--- a/images/linux/scripts/installers/php.sh
+++ b/images/linux/scripts/installers/php.sh
@@ -13,6 +13,12 @@ source $HELPER_SCRIPTS/install.sh
 apt-add-repository ppa:ondrej/php -y
 apt-get update
 
+# install specific version of libpcre2 otherwise latest ppa-hosted php fails
+# https://github.com/oerdnj/deb.sury.org/issues/1682
+if isUbuntu20 ; then
+    apt-get install -y libpcre2-8-0
+fi
+
 # Install PHP
 php_versions=$(get_toolset_value '.php.versions[]')