diff --git a/src/project/manifest/feature.rs b/src/project/manifest/feature.rs
index c49506561..abd8f9372 100644
--- a/src/project/manifest/feature.rs
+++ b/src/project/manifest/feature.rs
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ impl fmt::Display for FeatureName {
 ///
 /// Individual features cannot be used directly, instead they are grouped together into
 /// environments. Environments are then locked and installed.
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Default)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct Feature {
     /// The name of the feature or `None` if the feature is the default feature.
     pub name: FeatureName,
@@ -132,6 +132,17 @@ pub struct Feature {
 }
 
 impl Feature {
+    /// Construct a new feature with the given name.
+    pub fn new(name: FeatureName) -> Self {
+        Feature {
+            name,
+            platforms: None,
+            channels: None,
+            system_requirements: SystemRequirements::default(),
+            targets: <Targets as Default>::default(),
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Returns true if this feature is the default feature.
     pub fn is_default(&self) -> bool {
         self.name == FeatureName::Default
diff --git a/src/project/manifest/mod.rs b/src/project/manifest/mod.rs
index 73781a47d..62eef0aed 100644
--- a/src/project/manifest/mod.rs
+++ b/src/project/manifest/mod.rs
@@ -698,7 +698,11 @@ impl Manifest {
         name: Option<&FeatureName>,
     ) -> &mut Target {
         let feature = match name {
-            Some(feature) => self.parsed.features.entry(feature.clone()).or_default(),
+            Some(feature) => self
+                .parsed
+                .features
+                .entry(feature.clone())
+                .or_insert_with(|| Feature::new(feature.clone())),
             None => self.default_feature_mut(),
         };
         feature
diff --git a/src/project/manifest/pyproject.rs b/src/project/manifest/pyproject.rs
index d102d7412..426844ac8 100644
--- a/src/project/manifest/pyproject.rs
+++ b/src/project/manifest/pyproject.rs
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ use crate::FeatureName;
 use super::{
     error::{RequirementConversionError, TomlError},
     python::PyPiPackageName,
-    ProjectManifest, PyPiRequirement, SpecType,
+    Feature, ProjectManifest, PyPiRequirement, SpecType,
 };
 
 #[derive(Deserialize, Debug, Clone)]
@@ -106,10 +106,11 @@ impl From<PyProjectManifest> for ProjectManifest {
             for (extra, reqs) in extras {
                 // Filter out unused features
                 if features_used.contains(extra) {
+                    let feature_name = FeatureName::Named(extra.to_string());
                     let target = manifest
                         .features
-                        .entry(FeatureName::Named(extra.to_string()))
-                        .or_default()
+                        .entry(feature_name.clone())
+                        .or_insert_with(move || Feature::new(feature_name))
                         .targets
                         .default_mut();
                     for req in reqs.iter() {