diff --git a/daemon/core/gui/coreclient.py b/daemon/core/gui/coreclient.py
index e4fd5fac..9d5c5189 100644
--- a/daemon/core/gui/coreclient.py
+++ b/daemon/core/gui/coreclient.py
@@ -736,6 +736,9 @@ class CoreClient:
             image=image,
             emane=emane,
         )
+        if NodeUtils.is_custom(model):
+            services = NodeUtils.get_custom_node_services(self.app.guiconfig, model)
+            node.services[:] = services
         logging.debug(
             "adding node to core session: %s, coords: (%s, %s), name: %s",
             self.session_id,
diff --git a/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/nodeservice.py b/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/nodeservice.py
index a3928c9c..0b4391ce 100644
--- a/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/nodeservice.py
+++ b/daemon/core/gui/dialogs/nodeservice.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Set
 
 from core.gui.dialogs.dialog import Dialog
 from core.gui.dialogs.serviceconfig import ServiceConfigDialog
+from core.gui.nodeutils import NodeUtils
 from core.gui.themes import FRAME_PAD, PADX, PADY
 from core.gui.widgets import CheckboxList, ListboxScroll
 
@@ -35,10 +36,14 @@ class NodeServiceDialog(Dialog):
             services = canvas_node.core_node.services
             model = canvas_node.core_node.model
             if len(services) == 0:
-                services = set(self.app.core.default_services[model])
+                if not NodeUtils.is_custom(canvas_node.core_node.model):
+                    services = set(self.app.core.default_services[model])
+                else:
+                    services = set(
+                        NodeUtils.get_custom_node_services(self.app.guiconfig, model)
+                    )
             else:
                 services = set(services)
-
         self.current_services = services
         self.draw()
 
@@ -137,7 +142,8 @@ class NodeServiceDialog(Dialog):
 
     def click_save(self):
         if (
-            self.current_services
+            self.canvas_node.core_node.model not in self.app.core.default_services
+            or self.current_services
             != self.app.core.default_services[self.canvas_node.core_node.model]
         ):
             self.canvas_node.core_node.services[:] = self.current_services
diff --git a/daemon/core/gui/nodeutils.py b/daemon/core/gui/nodeutils.py
index 9047174b..9f1b5a7f 100644
--- a/daemon/core/gui/nodeutils.py
+++ b/daemon/core/gui/nodeutils.py
@@ -106,6 +106,17 @@ class NodeUtils:
                 logging.error("invalid icon: %s", core_node.icon)
         return image
 
+    @classmethod
+    def is_custom(cls, model):
+        return model not in cls.NODE_MODELS
+
+    @classmethod
+    def get_custom_node_services(cls, gui_config, name):
+        for m in gui_config["nodes"]:
+            if m["name"] == name:
+                return m["services"]
+        return []
+
     @classmethod
     def setup(cls):
         nodes = [