diff --git a/nest/proto.c b/nest/proto.c
index 15d6f4de..b22f6d18 100644
--- a/nest/proto.c
+++ b/nest/proto.c
@@ -483,7 +483,7 @@ channel_config_new(const struct channel_class *cc, const char *name, uint net_ty
 
   cf->net_type = net_type;
   cf->ra_mode = RA_OPTIMAL;
-  cf->preference = proto->protocol->preference;
+  cf->preference = 250 - proto->protocol->preference;
 
   add_tail(&proto->channels, &cf->n);
 
diff --git a/nest/route.h b/nest/route.h
index c52b7592..3af86c38 100644
--- a/nest/route.h
+++ b/nest/route.h
@@ -666,6 +666,7 @@ extern struct protocol *attr_class_to_protocol[EAP_MAX];
 
 /*
  *	Default protocol preferences
+ *	(effective values are 250-X of these)
  */
 
 #define DEF_PREF_DIRECT		240	/* Directly connected */
diff --git a/nest/rt-table.c b/nest/rt-table.c
index 293138d1..5a0ef914 100644
--- a/nest/rt-table.c
+++ b/nest/rt-table.c
@@ -335,9 +335,9 @@ rte_better(rte *new, rte *old)
   if (!rte_is_valid(new))
     return 0;
 
-  if (new->pref > old->pref)
-    return 1;
   if (new->pref < old->pref)
+    return 1;
+  if (new->pref > old->pref)
     return 0;
   if (new->attrs->src->proto->proto != old->attrs->src->proto->proto)
     {
diff --git a/proto/babel/babel.c b/proto/babel/babel.c
index 88c4711e..cb5bb707 100644
--- a/proto/babel/babel.c
+++ b/proto/babel/babel.c
@@ -664,7 +664,7 @@ babel_announce_rte(struct babel_proto *p, struct babel_entry *e)
     rte *rte = rte_get_temp(a);
     memset(&rte->u.babel, 0, sizeof(rte->u.babel));
     rte->pflags = 0;
-    rte->pref = 1;
+    rte->pref = 65535;
 
     e->unreachable = 1;
     rte_update2(c, e->n.addr, rte, p->p.main_source);