diff --git a/features.in/net/config.mk b/features.in/net/config.mk
index ffc7d0a7..dbc320ba 100644
--- a/features.in/net/config.mk
+++ b/features.in/net/config.mk
@@ -2,10 +2,11 @@
 
 use/net: use/services
 	@$(call add_feature)
-	@$(call add,THE_PACKAGES,network-config-subsystem)
+	@$(call add,THE_PACKAGES,$$(THE_NET_SUBSYS))
+	@$(call set,THE_NET_SUBSYS,network-config-subsystem)
 
 use/net/etcnet: use/net
-	@$(call add,THE_PACKAGES,etcnet)
+	@$(call set,THE_NET_SUBSYS,etcnet)
 	@$(call add,DEFAULT_SERVICES_ENABLE,network)
 
 use/net/dhcp: use/net
@@ -13,9 +14,10 @@ use/net/dhcp: use/net
 
 # base service, no GUI; see x11 feature for those
 use/net/nm: use/net
-	@$(call add,THE_LISTS,$(call tags,base nm))
+	@$(call set,THE_NET_SUBSYS,NetworkManager)
+	@$(call add,THE_LISTS,$(call tags,base nm))  # NB: won't get overridden
 	@$(call add,LIVE_PACKAGES,livecd-save-nfs)
-	@$(call add,DEFAULT_SERVICES_ENABLE,network) #  need for NM?
+	@$(call add,DEFAULT_SERVICES_ENABLE,network) # need for NM?
 	@$(call add,DEFAULT_SERVICES_ENABLE,NetworkManager ModemManager)
 	@$(call add,DEFAULT_SERVICES_ENABLE,livecd-save-nfs) # keep interface up
 
@@ -23,12 +25,12 @@ use/net/nm/nodelay: use/net/nm
 	@$(call add,DEFAULT_SERVICES_DISABLE,NetworkManager-wait-online)
 
 use/net/nm/mmgui: use/net/nm
-	@$(call add,THE_PACKAGES,modem-manager-gui)
+	@$(call set,THE_NET_SUBSYS,modem-manager-gui)
 
 use/net/connman: use/net
-	@$(call add,THE_PACKAGES,connman)
+	@$(call set,THE_NET_SUBSYS,connman)
 	@$(call add,DEFAULT_SERVICES_ENABLE,connmand connman)
 
 use/net/networkd: use/net
-	@$(call add,THE_PACKAGES,systemd-networkd)
+	@$(call set,THE_NET_SUBSYS,systemd-networkd)
 	@$(call add,DEFAULT_SERVICES_ENABLE,systemd-networkd)