diff --git a/release/packages/sets/base.ucl b/release/packages/sets/base.ucl
index 42dd2095f808..2d94ff4f4f2e 100644
--- a/release/packages/sets/base.ucl
+++ b/release/packages/sets/base.ucl
@@ -1,16 +1,18 @@
 comment = "Base system (metapackage)"
 
+vital = true
+
 desc = <<EOD
 This metapackage installs all packages which are part of the base system.
 EOD
 
 deps {
 	"set-minimal" {
 		version = "${VERSION}"
 		origin = "base"
 	},
 	"set-devel" {
 		version = "${VERSION}"
 		origin = "base"
 	}
 }
diff --git a/release/packages/sets/devel-dbg.ucl b/release/packages/sets/devel-dbg.ucl
index 5da492b93750..c3fcd9806272 100644
--- a/release/packages/sets/devel-dbg.ucl
+++ b/release/packages/sets/devel-dbg.ucl
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
-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
 toolchain.
 EOD
 
 deps {
 	"set-minimal-dbg" {
 		version = "${VERSION}"
 		origin = "base"
 	},
 }
diff --git a/release/packages/sets/devel.ucl b/release/packages/sets/devel.ucl
index ac6b6bab7ef8..08914a85a5b4 100644
--- a/release/packages/sets/devel.ucl
+++ b/release/packages/sets/devel.ucl
@@ -1,13 +1,15 @@
-comment = "Developments tools (metapackage)"
+comment = "Development tools (metapackage)"
+
+vital = true
 
 desc = <<EOD
 This metapackage installs development support for the base system, including
 compilers, toolchain utilities, header files, and static libraries.
 EOD
 
 deps {
 	"set-minimal" {
 		version = "${VERSION}"
 		origin = "base"
 	},
 }
diff --git a/release/packages/sets/lib32.ucl b/release/packages/sets/lib32.ucl
index c1b921c30b2e..b23ae15d00ae 100644
--- a/release/packages/sets/lib32.ucl
+++ b/release/packages/sets/lib32.ucl
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 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.
 EOD
diff --git a/release/packages/sets/minimal-jail.ucl b/release/packages/sets/minimal-jail.ucl
index fed7a3355c31..04e71912898c 100644
--- a/release/packages/sets/minimal-jail.ucl
+++ b/release/packages/sets/minimal-jail.ucl
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 comment = "Basic multi-user jail system (metapackage)"
 
+vital = true
+
 desc = <<EOD
 This metapackage installs the packages required to bring up a basic multi-user
 jail.  This is equivalent to the minimal set, but without hardware support.
 EOD
diff --git a/release/packages/sets/minimal.ucl b/release/packages/sets/minimal.ucl
index 0895f198824e..f2338f4c2e3b 100644
--- a/release/packages/sets/minimal.ucl
+++ b/release/packages/sets/minimal.ucl
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 comment = "Basic multi-user system (metapackage)"
 
+vital = true
+
 desc = <<EOD
 This metapackage installs the packages required to bring up a basic multi-user
 system.
 EOD
diff --git a/release/packages/sets/src.ucl b/release/packages/sets/src.ucl
index eada5dbde641..7ab94eb420df 100644
--- 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
index 88426a54a807..07b463fb7d69 100644
--- 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