diff --git a/src/vcpkg-test/dependencies.cpp b/src/vcpkg-test/dependencies.cpp
index d1ae9e2102..86f2bfb498 100644
--- a/src/vcpkg-test/dependencies.cpp
+++ b/src/vcpkg-test/dependencies.cpp
@@ -162,6 +162,8 @@ static const PackageSpec& toplevel_spec()
     return ret;
 }
 
+static PackageSpec toplevel_spec(const std::string& name) { return {name, Test::X86_WINDOWS}; }
+
 struct MockOverlayProvider : IOverlayProvider
 {
     MockOverlayProvider() = default;
@@ -1618,7 +1620,7 @@ TEST_CASE ("version install default features", "[versionplan]")
     bp.v["a"] = {"1", 0};
 
     WITH_EXPECTED(install_plan,
-                  create_versioned_install_plan(vp, bp, var_provider, {Dependency{"a"}}, {}, toplevel_spec()));
+                  create_versioned_install_plan(vp, bp, var_provider, {Dependency{"a"}}, {}, toplevel_spec("a")));
 
     REQUIRE(install_plan.size() == 1);
     check_name_and_version(install_plan.install_actions[0], "a", {"1", 0}, {"x"});
@@ -1638,8 +1640,9 @@ TEST_CASE ("version dont install default features", "[versionplan]")
     MockBaselineProvider bp;
     bp.v["a"] = {"1", 0};
 
-    auto install_plan = create_versioned_install_plan(vp, bp, var_provider, {CoreDependency{"a"}}, {}, toplevel_spec())
-                            .value_or_exit(VCPKG_LINE_INFO);
+    auto install_plan =
+        create_versioned_install_plan(vp, bp, var_provider, {CoreDependency{"a"}}, {}, toplevel_spec("a"))
+            .value_or_exit(VCPKG_LINE_INFO);
 
     REQUIRE(install_plan.size() == 1);
     check_name_and_version(install_plan.install_actions[0], "a", {"1", 0});
diff --git a/src/vcpkg/dependencies.cpp b/src/vcpkg/dependencies.cpp
index 336fcffb77..02237f38bd 100644
--- a/src/vcpkg/dependencies.cpp
+++ b/src/vcpkg/dependencies.cpp
@@ -1649,9 +1649,9 @@ namespace vcpkg
                 }
             }
 
-            // Implicit defaults are disabled if spec has been mentioned at top-level.
+            // Implicit defaults are disabled if spec is requested from top-level spec.
             // Note that if top-level doesn't also mark that reference as `[core]`, defaults will be re-engaged.
-            it->second.default_features = !Util::Maps::contains(m_user_requested, spec);
+            it->second.default_features = origin != m_toplevel.name();
             it->second.requested_features.insert("core");
 
             require_scfl(*it, it->second.scfl, origin);