diff --git a/nest/config.Y b/nest/config.Y
index a6baf4ea..3fcfa528 100644
--- a/nest/config.Y
+++ b/nest/config.Y
@@ -219,7 +219,6 @@ CF_ADDTO(proto, dev_proto '}')
 
 dev_proto_start: proto_start DIRECT {
      this_proto = proto_config_new(&proto_device, sizeof(struct rt_dev_config), $1);
-     this_proto->preference = DEF_PREF_DIRECT;
      init_list(&DIRECT_CFG->iface_list);
    }
  ;
diff --git a/nest/proto.c b/nest/proto.c
index d55c348d..0fc72ce1 100644
--- a/nest/proto.c
+++ b/nest/proto.c
@@ -200,6 +200,7 @@ proto_config_new(struct protocol *pr, unsigned size, int class)
   c->global = new_config;
   c->protocol = pr;
   c->name = pr->name;
+  c->preference = pr->preference;
   c->class = class;
   c->out_filter = FILTER_REJECT;
   c->table = c->global->master_rtc;
diff --git a/nest/protocol.h b/nest/protocol.h
index 3766e15e..a83c4ffc 100644
--- a/nest/protocol.h
+++ b/nest/protocol.h
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ struct protocol {
   char *template;			/* Template for automatic generation of names */
   int name_counter;			/* Counter for automatic name generation */
   int attr_class;			/* Attribute class known to this protocol */
+  unsigned preference;			/* Default protocol preference */
 
   void (*preconfig)(struct protocol *, struct config *);	/* Just before configuring */
   void (*postconfig)(struct proto_config *);			/* After configuring each instance */
diff --git a/nest/rt-dev.c b/nest/rt-dev.c
index 497ee808..54cb14ba 100644
--- a/nest/rt-dev.c
+++ b/nest/rt-dev.c
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@ dev_copy_config(struct proto_config *dest, struct proto_config *src)
 struct protocol proto_device = {
   name:		"Direct",
   template:	"direct%d",
+  preference:	DEF_PREF_DIRECT,
   init:		dev_init,
   reconfigure:	dev_reconfigure,
   copy_config:	dev_copy_config
diff --git a/proto/bgp/bgp.c b/proto/bgp/bgp.c
index 66fdc603..4d3c32fb 100644
--- a/proto/bgp/bgp.c
+++ b/proto/bgp/bgp.c
@@ -1178,6 +1178,7 @@ struct protocol proto_bgp = {
   name:			"BGP",
   template:		"bgp%d",
   attr_class:		EAP_BGP,
+  preference:		DEF_PREF_BGP,
   init:			bgp_init,
   start:		bgp_start,
   shutdown:		bgp_shutdown,
diff --git a/proto/bgp/config.Y b/proto/bgp/config.Y
index 5fb60940..78ca52de 100644
--- a/proto/bgp/config.Y
+++ b/proto/bgp/config.Y
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@ CF_ADDTO(proto, bgp_proto '}' { bgp_check_config(BGP_CFG); } )
 
 bgp_proto_start: proto_start BGP {
      this_proto = proto_config_new(&proto_bgp, sizeof(struct bgp_config), $1);
-     this_proto->preference = DEF_PREF_BGP;
      BGP_CFG->hold_time = 240;
      BGP_CFG->connect_retry_time = 120;
      BGP_CFG->initial_hold_time = 240;
diff --git a/proto/ospf/config.Y b/proto/ospf/config.Y
index 4ada41e8..24e125a7 100644
--- a/proto/ospf/config.Y
+++ b/proto/ospf/config.Y
@@ -129,7 +129,6 @@ CF_ADDTO(proto, ospf_proto '}' { ospf_proto_finish(); } )
 
 ospf_proto_start: proto_start OSPF {
      this_proto = proto_config_new(&proto_ospf, sizeof(struct ospf_config), $1);
-     this_proto->preference = DEF_PREF_OSPF;
      init_list(&OSPF_CFG->area_list);
      init_list(&OSPF_CFG->vlink_list);
      OSPF_CFG->rfc1583 = DEFAULT_RFC1583;
diff --git a/proto/ospf/ospf.c b/proto/ospf/ospf.c
index ce7ad37c..73c06c27 100644
--- a/proto/ospf/ospf.c
+++ b/proto/ospf/ospf.c
@@ -1542,6 +1542,7 @@ struct protocol proto_ospf = {
   name:			"OSPF",
   template:		"ospf%d",
   attr_class:		EAP_OSPF,
+  preference:		DEF_PREF_OSPF,
   init:			ospf_init,
   dump:			ospf_dump,
   start:		ospf_start,
diff --git a/proto/pipe/config.Y b/proto/pipe/config.Y
index 4478afe7..40637558 100644
--- a/proto/pipe/config.Y
+++ b/proto/pipe/config.Y
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ CF_ADDTO(proto, pipe_proto '}')
 
 pipe_proto_start: proto_start PIPE {
      this_proto = proto_config_new(&proto_pipe, sizeof(struct pipe_config), $1);
-     this_proto->preference = DEF_PREF_PIPE;
      PIPE_CFG->mode = PIPE_TRANSPARENT;
   }
  ;
diff --git a/proto/pipe/pipe.c b/proto/pipe/pipe.c
index 420c5a9d..fe8618b6 100644
--- a/proto/pipe/pipe.c
+++ b/proto/pipe/pipe.c
@@ -197,6 +197,7 @@ pipe_get_status(struct proto *P, byte *buf)
 struct protocol proto_pipe = {
   name:		"Pipe",
   template:	"pipe%d",
+  preference:	DEF_PREF_PIPE,
   postconfig:	pipe_postconfig,
   init:		pipe_init,
   start:	pipe_start,
diff --git a/proto/rip/rip.c b/proto/rip/rip.c
index 543aa306..f0a41347 100644
--- a/proto/rip/rip.c
+++ b/proto/rip/rip.c
@@ -975,7 +975,6 @@ void
 rip_init_config(struct rip_proto_config *c)
 {
   init_list(&c->iface_list);
-  c->c.preference = DEF_PREF_RIP;
   c->infinity	= 16;
   c->port	= 520;
   c->period	= 30;
@@ -1032,6 +1031,7 @@ struct protocol proto_rip = {
   name: "RIP",
   template: "rip%d",
   attr_class: EAP_RIP,
+  preference: DEF_PREF_RIP,
   get_route_info: rip_get_route_info,
   get_attr: rip_get_attr,
 
diff --git a/proto/static/static.c b/proto/static/static.c
index f6c2a33f..aaa9bfad 100644
--- a/proto/static/static.c
+++ b/proto/static/static.c
@@ -353,7 +353,6 @@ static_if_notify(struct proto *p, unsigned flags, struct iface *i)
 void
 static_init_config(struct static_config *c)
 {
-  c->c.preference = DEF_PREF_STATIC;
   init_list(&c->iface_routes);
   init_list(&c->other_routes);
 }
@@ -523,6 +522,7 @@ static_copy_config(struct proto_config *dest, struct proto_config *src)
 struct protocol proto_static = {
   name:		"Static",
   template:	"static%d",
+  preference:	DEF_PREF_STATIC,
   init:		static_init,
   dump:		static_dump,
   start:	static_start,
diff --git a/sysdep/unix/krt.Y b/sysdep/unix/krt.Y
index 86081966..18e1e52d 100644
--- a/sysdep/unix/krt.Y
+++ b/sysdep/unix/krt.Y
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ kern_proto_start: proto_start KERNEL {
        cf_error("Kernel protocol already defined");
 #endif
      cf_krt = this_proto = proto_config_new(&proto_unix_kernel, sizeof(struct krt_config), $1);
-     this_proto->preference = DEF_PREF_INHERITED;
      THIS_KRT->scan_time = 60;
      THIS_KRT->learn = THIS_KRT->persist = 0;
      krt_scan_construct(THIS_KRT);
@@ -67,7 +66,6 @@ kif_proto_start: proto_start DEVICE {
      if (cf_kif)
        cf_error("Kernel device protocol already defined");
      cf_kif = this_proto = proto_config_new(&proto_unix_iface, sizeof(struct kif_config), $1);
-     this_proto->preference = DEF_PREF_DIRECT;
      THIS_KIF->scan_time = 60;
      init_list(&THIS_KIF->primary);
      krt_if_construct(THIS_KIF);
diff --git a/sysdep/unix/krt.c b/sysdep/unix/krt.c
index ad8ea6b6..231c5fcf 100644
--- a/sysdep/unix/krt.c
+++ b/sysdep/unix/krt.c
@@ -243,6 +243,7 @@ kif_copy_config(struct proto_config *dest, struct proto_config *src)
 struct protocol proto_unix_iface = {
   name:		"Device",
   template:	"device%d",
+  preference:	DEF_PREF_DIRECT,
   preconfig:	kif_preconfig,
   init:		kif_init,
   start:	kif_start,
@@ -968,6 +969,7 @@ struct protocol proto_unix_kernel = {
   name:		"Kernel",
   template:	"kernel%d",
   attr_class:	EAP_KRT,
+  preference:	DEF_PREF_INHERITED,
   preconfig:	krt_preconfig,
   postconfig:	krt_postconfig,
   init:		krt_init,