diff --git a/nest/proto.c b/nest/proto.c
index 60a74964..885a0b75 100644
--- a/nest/proto.c
+++ b/nest/proto.c
@@ -804,6 +804,7 @@ channel_config_get(const struct channel_class *cc, const char *name, uint net_ty
 	cf_error("Multiple %s channels", name);
 
       cf->parent = proto;
+      cf->copy = 1;
       return cf;
     }
 
diff --git a/nest/protocol.h b/nest/protocol.h
index 29d759ea..46744357 100644
--- a/nest/protocol.h
+++ b/nest/protocol.h
@@ -493,6 +493,7 @@ struct channel_config {
   u8 ra_mode;				/* Mode of received route advertisements (RA_*) */
   u16 preference;			/* Default route preference */
   u32 debug;				/* Debugging flags (D_*) */
+  u8 copy;				/* Value from channel_config_get() is new (0) or from template (1) */
   u8 merge_limit;			/* Maximal number of nexthops for RA_MERGED */
   u8 in_keep_filtered;			/* Routes rejected in import filter are kept */
   u8 rpki_reload;			/* RPKI changes trigger channel reload */