diff --git a/conf/cassandra-topology.properties b/conf/cassandra-topology.properties.example
similarity index 100%
rename from conf/cassandra-topology.properties
rename to conf/cassandra-topology.properties.example
diff --git a/debian/cassandra.install b/debian/cassandra.install
index 6df6f57f8b..df45d88eba 100644
--- a/debian/cassandra.install
+++ b/debian/cassandra.install
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ conf/cassandra.yaml etc/cassandra
 conf/cassandra-env.sh etc/cassandra
 conf/cassandra-rackdc.properties etc/cassandra
 conf/commitlog_archiving.properties etc/cassandra
-conf/cassandra-topology.properties etc/cassandra
+conf/cassandra-topology.properties.example etc/cassandra
 conf/logback.xml etc/cassandra
 conf/logback-tools.xml etc/cassandra
 conf/jvm*.options etc/cassandra