diff --git a/release/packages/sets/base.ucl b/release/packages/sets/base.ucl
--- a/release/packages/sets/base.ucl
+++ b/release/packages/sets/base.ucl
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 comment = "Base system (metapackage)"
 
+vital = true
+
 desc = <<EOD
 This metapackage installs all packages which are part of the base system.
 EOD
diff --git a/release/packages/sets/devel-dbg.ucl b/release/packages/sets/devel-dbg.ucl
--- a/release/packages/sets/devel-dbg.ucl
+++ b/release/packages/sets/devel-dbg.ucl
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-comment = "Developments tools debugging symbols (metapackage)"
+comment = "Development tools debugging symbols (metapackage)"
 
 desc = <<EOD
 This metapackage installs debugging symbols for the base system compiler and
diff --git a/release/packages/sets/devel.ucl b/release/packages/sets/devel.ucl
--- a/release/packages/sets/devel.ucl
+++ b/release/packages/sets/devel.ucl
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-comment = "Developments tools (metapackage)"
+comment = "Development tools (metapackage)"
+
+vital = true
 
 desc = <<EOD
 This metapackage installs development support for the base system, including
diff --git a/release/packages/sets/lib32.ucl b/release/packages/sets/lib32.ucl
--- a/release/packages/sets/lib32.ucl
+++ b/release/packages/sets/lib32.ucl
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 comment = "32-bit compatibility libraries (metapackage)"
 
+vital = true
+
 desc = <<EOD
 This metapackage installs compatibility libraries required for building and
 running 32-bit applications on a 64-bit host system.
diff --git a/release/packages/sets/minimal.ucl b/release/packages/sets/minimal.ucl
--- a/release/packages/sets/minimal.ucl
+++ b/release/packages/sets/minimal.ucl
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 comment = "Basic multi-user system (metapackage)"
 
+vital = true
+
 desc = <<EOD
 This metapackage installs the packages required to bring up a basic multi-user
 system.
diff --git a/release/packages/sets/src.ucl b/release/packages/sets/src.ucl
--- a/release/packages/sets/src.ucl
+++ b/release/packages/sets/src.ucl
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 comment = "System source code"
 
+vital = yes
+
 desc = <<EOD
 This metapackage installs source code for the base system and kernel.
 EOD
diff --git a/release/packages/sets/tests.ucl b/release/packages/sets/tests.ucl
--- a/release/packages/sets/tests.ucl
+++ b/release/packages/sets/tests.ucl
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 comment = "System test suite"
 
+vital = yes
+
 desc = <<EOD
 This metapackage installs the system test suite.
 EOD