diff --git a/filter/config.Y b/filter/config.Y
index f8170a83..a83510d7 100644
--- a/filter/config.Y
+++ b/filter/config.Y
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ CF_KEYWORDS(FUNCTION, PRINT, PRINTN, UNSET, RETURN,
 	IF, THEN, ELSE, CASE,
 	TRUE, FALSE, RT, RO, UNKNOWN, GENERIC,
 	FROM, GW, NET, MASK, PROTO, SOURCE, SCOPE, DEST, IFNAME, IFINDEX,
-	PREFERENCE,
+	PREFERENCE, DISTANCE,
 	ROA_CHECK, ASN,
 	IS_V4, IS_V6,
 	LEN, MAXLEN,
@@ -886,6 +886,7 @@ term:
  | constructor { $$ = $1; }
 
  | PREFERENCE { $$ = f_new_inst(FI_PREF_GET); }
+ | DISTANCE { $$ = f_new_inst(FI_PREF_GET); }
 
  | rtadot static_attr { $$ = f_new_inst_sa(FI_RTA_GET, $2); }
 
@@ -1031,6 +1032,10 @@ cmd:
      $$ = f_new_inst(FI_PREF_SET);
      $$->a1.p = $3;
    }
+ | DISTANCE '=' term ';' {
+     $$ = f_new_inst(FI_PREF_SET);
+     $$->a1.p = $3;
+   }
  | UNSET '(' rtadot dynamic_attr ')' ';' {
      $$ = f_new_inst_da(FI_EA_SET, $4);
      $$->aux = EAF_TYPE_UNDEF | EAF_TEMP;
diff --git a/nest/config.Y b/nest/config.Y
index 5f89918a..76de67f9 100644
--- a/nest/config.Y
+++ b/nest/config.Y
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ proto_postconfig(void)
 
 CF_DECLS
 
-CF_KEYWORDS(ROUTER, ID, PROTOCOL, TEMPLATE, PREFERENCE, DISABLED, DEBUG, ALL, OFF, DIRECT)
+CF_KEYWORDS(ROUTER, ID, PROTOCOL, TEMPLATE, PREFERENCE, DISTANCE, DISABLED, DEBUG, ALL, OFF, DIRECT)
 CF_KEYWORDS(INTERFACE, IMPORT, EXPORT, FILTER, NONE, VRF, TABLE, STATES, ROUTES, FILTERS)
 CF_KEYWORDS(IPV4, IPV6, VPN4, VPN6, ROA4, ROA6, FLOW4, FLOW6, SADR, MPLS)
 CF_KEYWORDS(RECEIVE, LIMIT, ACTION, WARN, BLOCK, RESTART, DISABLE, KEEP, FILTERED)
@@ -230,6 +230,7 @@ channel_item:
  | IMPORT LIMIT limit_spec { this_channel->in_limit = $3; }
  | EXPORT LIMIT limit_spec { this_channel->out_limit = $3; }
  | PREFERENCE expr { this_channel->preference = $2; check_u16($2); }
+ | DISTANCE expr { this_channel->preference = $2; check_u16($2); }
  | IMPORT KEEP FILTERED bool { this_channel->in_keep_filtered = $4; }
  ;
 
diff --git a/nest/proto.c b/nest/proto.c
index 15d6f4de..a895ef30 100644
--- a/nest/proto.c
+++ b/nest/proto.c
@@ -1658,7 +1658,7 @@ channel_show_info(struct channel *c)
   cli_msg(-1006, "  Channel %s", c->name);
   cli_msg(-1006, "    State:          %s", c_states[c->channel_state]);
   cli_msg(-1006, "    Table:          %s", c->table->name);
-  cli_msg(-1006, "    Preference:     %d", c->preference);
+  cli_msg(-1006, "    Distance:       %d", c->preference);
   cli_msg(-1006, "    Input filter:   %s", filter_name(c->in_filter));
   cli_msg(-1006, "    Output filter:  %s", filter_name(c->out_filter));