diff --git a/conf/distro/include/phosphor-defaults.inc b/conf/distro/include/phosphor-defaults.inc
index 0128fce..2fed684 100644
--- a/conf/distro/include/phosphor-defaults.inc
+++ b/conf/distro/include/phosphor-defaults.inc
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@
 # Provide support for monitoring BMC core dumps
 VIRTUAL-RUNTIME_obmc-dump-monitor ?= "phosphor-debug-collector-monitor"
 
-PREFERRED_PROVIDER_virtual/obmc-system-mgmt ?= "obmc-phosphor-sysd"
+PREFERRED_PROVIDER_virtual/obmc-system-mgmt ??= "obmc-phosphor-sysd"
 
 # phosphor-hwmon-config
 #