diff --git a/conda_lock/conda_lock.py b/conda_lock/conda_lock.py
index e7891d8e..631db834 100644
--- a/conda_lock/conda_lock.py
+++ b/conda_lock/conda_lock.py
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ def make_lock_files(  # noqa: C901
                     deep=True,
                     update={"package": packages_not_to_lock},
                 )
-                new_lock_content = lock_content_to_persist | fresh_lock_content
+                new_lock_content = lock_content_to_persist.merge(fresh_lock_content)
 
             if "lock" in kinds:
                 write_conda_lock_file(
@@ -609,6 +609,7 @@ def render_lockfile_for_platform(  # noqa: C901
 
     # ensure consistent ordering of generated file
     lockfile.toposort_inplace()
+    lockfile.filter_virtual_packages_inplace()
 
     for p in lockfile.package:
         if p.platform == platform and p.category in categories:
diff --git a/conda_lock/lockfile/v2prelim/models.py b/conda_lock/lockfile/v2prelim/models.py
index 1f8ea384..8fbce6f5 100644
--- a/conda_lock/lockfile/v2prelim/models.py
+++ b/conda_lock/lockfile/v2prelim/models.py
@@ -39,10 +39,7 @@ class Lockfile(StrictModel):
     package: List[LockedDependency]
     metadata: LockMeta
 
-    def __or__(self, other: "Lockfile") -> "Lockfile":
-        return other.__ror__(self)
-
-    def __ror__(self, other: "Optional[Lockfile]") -> "Lockfile":
+    def merge(self, other: "Optional[Lockfile]") -> "Lockfile":
         """
         merge self into other
         """
@@ -84,9 +81,7 @@ def filter_virtual_packages_inplace(self) -> None:
         ]
 
     @staticmethod
-    def _toposort(
-        package: List[LockedDependency], update: bool = False
-    ) -> List[LockedDependency]:
+    def _toposort(package: List[LockedDependency]) -> List[LockedDependency]:
         platforms = {d.platform for d in package}
 
         # Resort the conda packages topologically
@@ -120,10 +115,6 @@ def _toposort(
                         continue
                     if dep.manager != manager:
                         continue
-                    # skip virtual packages
-                    if dep.manager == "conda" and dep.name.startswith("__"):
-                        continue
-
                     final_package.append(dep)
 
         return final_package