diff --git a/nixos/modules/config/system-path.nix b/nixos/modules/config/system-path.nix
index 7a65e44e828d..fae2fc740082 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/config/system-path.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/config/system-path.nix
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ with lib;
 
 let
 
-  requiredPackages = map lib.lowPrio
+  requiredPackages = map (pkg: setPrio ((pkg.meta.priority or 5) + 3) pkg)
     [ config.nix.package
       pkgs.acl
       pkgs.attr
diff --git a/pkgs/build-support/bintools-wrapper/default.nix b/pkgs/build-support/bintools-wrapper/default.nix
index fca796363844..98d43c01ba06 100644
--- a/pkgs/build-support/bintools-wrapper/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/build-support/bintools-wrapper/default.nix
@@ -328,6 +328,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation {
     { description =
         stdenv.lib.attrByPath ["meta" "description"] "System binary utilities" bintools_
         + " (wrapper script)";
+      priority = 10;
   } // optionalAttrs useMacosReexportHack {
     platforms = stdenv.lib.platforms.darwin;
   };
diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/darwin/binutils/default.nix b/pkgs/os-specific/darwin/binutils/default.nix
index db33b78a4aba..3b5e8f1207a2 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/darwin/binutils/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/darwin/binutils/default.nix
@@ -52,4 +52,9 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation {
   passthru = {
     inherit targetPrefix;
   };
+
+  meta = {
+    maintainers = with stdenv.lib.maintainers; [ matthewbauer ];
+    priority = 10;
+  };
 }
diff --git a/pkgs/tools/archivers/gnutar/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/archivers/gnutar/default.nix
index a6f5052ad08a..8ec34ce6730b 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/archivers/gnutar/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/archivers/gnutar/default.nix
@@ -62,5 +62,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
     maintainers = [ ];
     platforms = stdenv.lib.platforms.all;
+
+    priority = 10;
   };
 }
diff --git a/pkgs/tools/misc/coreutils/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/misc/coreutils/default.nix
index 84a2735dff8f..ce1d4dc0ba87 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/misc/coreutils/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/misc/coreutils/default.nix
@@ -123,6 +123,8 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
     platforms = platforms.unix ++ platforms.windows;
 
+    priority = 10;
+
     maintainers = [ maintainers.eelco ];
   };
 
diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/unix-tools.nix b/pkgs/top-level/unix-tools.nix
index 7d4986068332..00edb7c09072 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/unix-tools.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/unix-tools.nix
@@ -20,7 +20,10 @@ let
       bin = "${getBin provider}/bin/${cmd}";
       manpage = "${getOutput "man" provider}/share/man/man1/${cmd}.1.gz";
     in runCommand "${cmd}-${version}" {
-      meta.platforms = map (n: { kernel.name = n; }) (attrNames providers);
+      meta = {
+        priority = 10;
+        platforms = map (n: { kernel.name = n; }) (attrNames providers);
+      };
       passthru = { inherit provider; };
       preferLocalBuild = true;
     } ''