diff --git a/examples/api_example/api_example.nim b/examples/api_example/api_example.nim
index 024809032e..a838da80be 100644
--- a/examples/api_example/api_example.nim
+++ b/examples/api_example/api_example.nim
@@ -63,6 +63,9 @@ when isMainModule:
     echo "Failed to create default config: ", error
     quit(QuitFailure)
 
+  # The CLI default is kernel-only; this example drives the messaging API.
+  conf.entryLayer = EntryLayer.channels
+
   if args.ethRpcEndpoint == "":
     # Create a basic configuration for the Waku node
     # No RLN as we don't have an ETH RPC Endpoint
diff --git a/logos_delivery/api/conf/logos_delivery_conf.nim b/logos_delivery/api/conf/logos_delivery_conf.nim
index eb2e5b9fa2..e6f363738f 100644
--- a/logos_delivery/api/conf/logos_delivery_conf.nim
+++ b/logos_delivery/api/conf/logos_delivery_conf.nim
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ proc init*(
   let merged = merge(?resolvePreset(preset), messagingOverrides)
   var kernelConf = ?toWakuNodeConf(merged, mode)
   kernelConf.preset = preset
+  kernelConf.entryLayer = entryLayer
   return ok(
     LogosDeliveryConf(
       kernelConf: KernelConf(kernelConf),
diff --git a/logos_delivery/api/conf/messaging_conf.nim b/logos_delivery/api/conf/messaging_conf.nim
index 62abea75e6..66220dd9dd 100644
--- a/logos_delivery/api/conf/messaging_conf.nim
+++ b/logos_delivery/api/conf/messaging_conf.nim
@@ -84,6 +84,9 @@ proc toWakuNodeConf*(
   # `LogosDelivery.new(WakuNodeConf)` re-application is idempotent instead of
   # clobbering these flags with the field's default (`Core`).
   conf.mode = mode
+  # Derived from a `MessagingClientConf`, so never kernel-only: don't inherit the
+  # CLI default. `LogosDeliveryConf.init` overwrites this with the caller's layer.
+  conf.entryLayer = EntryLayer.channels
 
   if self.store.isSome():
     conf.store = self.store.get()
diff --git a/tests/wakunode2/test_cli_args.nim b/tests/wakunode2/test_cli_args.nim
index 4578e1cecf..3de1a3ab35 100644
--- a/tests/wakunode2/test_cli_args.nim
+++ b/tests/wakunode2/test_cli_args.nim
@@ -54,6 +54,13 @@ suite "Waku external config - default values":
     let conf = res.get()
     check conf.subscribeShards == defaultSubscribeShards
 
+  test "Default entry layer is kernel":
+    ## Given
+    let preConfig = defaultWakuNodeConf().get()
+
+    ## Then
+    check preConfig.entryLayer == EntryLayer.kernel
+
 suite "Waku external config - apply preset":
   test "Preset is TWN":
     ## Setup
diff --git a/tools/confutils/cli_args.nim b/tools/confutils/cli_args.nim
index 1cb6292d2a..ff6dc05dcf 100644
--- a/tools/confutils/cli_args.nim
+++ b/tools/confutils/cli_args.nim
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ type WakuNodeConf* = object
     entryLayer* {.
       desc:
         "Top API layer to run: kernel (transport only), messaging, or channels (messaging + reliable channels).",
-      defaultValue: EntryLayer.channels,
+      defaultValue: EntryLayer.kernel,
       name: "entry-layer"
     .}: EntryLayer