diff --git a/daemon/core/emulator/coreemu.py b/daemon/core/emulator/coreemu.py
index 179faf9c..9baadb54 100644
--- a/daemon/core/emulator/coreemu.py
+++ b/daemon/core/emulator/coreemu.py
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ import sys
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Dict, List, Type
 
-import core.services
 from core import utils
 from core.configservice.manager import ConfigServiceManager
 from core.emane.modelmanager import EmaneModelManager
@@ -92,7 +91,7 @@ class CoreEmu:
         :return: nothing
         """
         # load default services
-        self.service_errors = core.services.load()
+        self.service_errors = ServiceManager.load_locals()
         # load custom services
         service_paths = self.config.get("custom_services_dir")
         logger.debug("custom service paths: %s", service_paths)
diff --git a/daemon/core/services/__init__.py b/daemon/core/services/__init__.py
index 4d9b90a2..e69de29b 100644
--- a/daemon/core/services/__init__.py
+++ b/daemon/core/services/__init__.py
@@ -1,20 +0,0 @@
-"""
-Services
-
-Services available to nodes can be put in this directory.  Everything listed in
-__all__ is automatically loaded by the main core module.
-"""
-from pathlib import Path
-
-from core.services.coreservices import ServiceManager
-
-_PATH: Path = Path(__file__).resolve().parent
-
-
-def load():
-    """
-    Loads all services from the modules that reside under core.services.
-
-    :return: list of services that failed to load
-    """
-    return ServiceManager.add_services(_PATH)
diff --git a/daemon/core/services/coreservices.py b/daemon/core/services/coreservices.py
index cabc93c0..8d611d4b 100644
--- a/daemon/core/services/coreservices.py
+++ b/daemon/core/services/coreservices.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ services.
 
 import enum
 import logging
+import pkgutil
 import time
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import (
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ from typing import (
     Union,
 )
 
+from core import services as core_services
 from core import utils
 from core.emulator.data import FileData
 from core.emulator.enumerations import ExceptionLevels, MessageFlags, RegisterTlvs
@@ -233,25 +235,25 @@ class ServiceManager:
         """
         name = service.name
         logger.debug("loading service: class(%s) name(%s)", service.__name__, name)
-
+        # avoid services with no name
+        if name is None:
+            logger.debug("not loading class(%s) with no name", service.__name__)
+            return
         # avoid duplicate services
         if name in cls.services:
-            raise ValueError("duplicate service being added: %s" % name)
-
+            raise ValueError(f"duplicate service being added: {name}")
         # validate dependent executables are present
         for executable in service.executables:
             try:
                 utils.which(executable, required=True)
             except CoreError as e:
                 raise CoreError(f"service({name}): {e}")
-
         # validate service on load succeeds
         try:
             service.on_load()
         except Exception as e:
             logger.exception("error during service(%s) on load", service.name)
             raise ValueError(e)
-
         # make service available
         cls.services[name] = service
 
@@ -288,6 +290,21 @@ class ServiceManager:
                 logger.debug("not loading service(%s): %s", service.name, e)
         return service_errors
 
+    @classmethod
+    def load_locals(cls) -> List[str]:
+        errors = []
+        for module_info in pkgutil.walk_packages(
+            core_services.__path__, f"{core_services.__name__}."
+        ):
+            services = utils.load_module(module_info.name, CoreService)
+            for service in services:
+                try:
+                    cls.add(service)
+                except CoreError as e:
+                    errors.append(service.name)
+                    logger.debug("not loading service(%s): %s", service.name, e)
+        return errors
+
 
 class CoreServices:
     """