diff --git a/logos_delivery/api/conf/logos_delivery_conf.nim b/logos_delivery/api/conf/logos_delivery_conf.nim
index bec9f9a78..eb2e5b9fa 100644
--- a/logos_delivery/api/conf/logos_delivery_conf.nim
+++ b/logos_delivery/api/conf/logos_delivery_conf.nim
@@ -2,10 +2,11 @@
 
 import results
 
+import logos_delivery/api/conf/modes
 import logos_delivery/api/conf/messaging_conf
 import logos_delivery/api/conf/channels_conf
 
-export messaging_conf, channels_conf
+export modes, messaging_conf, channels_conf
 
 type LogosDeliveryConf* = object
   ## Aggregates the per-layer config objects. A layer is mounted iff its config
@@ -19,11 +20,14 @@ proc init*(T: type LogosDeliveryConf, kernelConf: KernelConf): LogosDeliveryConf
 
 proc init*(
     T: type LogosDeliveryConf,
+    entryLayer: EntryLayer = EntryLayer.channels,
     mode: LogosDeliveryMode,
     preset: string,
     messagingOverrides: MessagingClientConf,
     channelsOverrides: ReliableChannelManagerConf,
 ): ConfResult[LogosDeliveryConf] =
+  ## Structured (preset + overrides) entry. Only `messaging` / `channels` layers
+  ## reach here; the `kernel` layer uses `init(kernelConf)` (raw, mode ignored).
   let merged = merge(?resolvePreset(preset), messagingOverrides)
   var kernelConf = ?toWakuNodeConf(merged, mode)
   kernelConf.preset = preset
@@ -31,7 +35,11 @@ proc init*(
     LogosDeliveryConf(
       kernelConf: KernelConf(kernelConf),
       messagingConf: Opt.some(merged),
-      channelsConf: Opt.some(channelsOverrides),
+      channelsConf:
+        if entryLayer == EntryLayer.channels:
+          Opt.some(channelsOverrides)
+        else:
+          Opt.none(ReliableChannelManagerConf),
     )
   )
 
diff --git a/logos_delivery/api/conf/logos_delivery_conf_json.nim b/logos_delivery/api/conf/logos_delivery_conf_json.nim
index 6440a63ac..307ca51c6 100644
--- a/logos_delivery/api/conf/logos_delivery_conf_json.nim
+++ b/logos_delivery/api/conf/logos_delivery_conf_json.nim
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import logos_delivery/api/conf/logos_delivery_conf
 
 const
   # Lowercased, since `collectJsonFields` keys the object case-insensitively.
+  KeyEntryLayer = "entrylayer"
   KeyMode = "mode"
   KeyPreset = "preset"
   KeyKernelConf = "kernelconf"
@@ -24,10 +25,21 @@ proc parseMode(s: string): Result[LogosDeliveryMode, string] =
     return ok(LogosDeliveryMode.Core)
   of "edge":
     return ok(LogosDeliveryMode.Edge)
-  of "fleet":
-    return ok(LogosDeliveryMode.Fleet)
   else:
-    return err("invalid mode: '" & s & "' (expected 'Core', 'Edge' or 'Fleet')")
+    return err("invalid mode: '" & s & "' (expected 'Core' or 'Edge')")
+
+proc parseEntryLayer(s: string): Result[EntryLayer, string] =
+  case s.strip().toLowerAscii()
+  of "kernel":
+    return ok(EntryLayer.kernel)
+  of "messaging":
+    return ok(EntryLayer.messaging)
+  of "channels":
+    return ok(EntryLayer.channels)
+  else:
+    return err(
+      "invalid entryLayer: '" & s & "' (expected 'kernel', 'messaging' or 'channels')"
+    )
 
 proc parseOverrides[T](defaults: T, node: JsonNode, label: string): Result[T, string] =
   ## Parse the JSON object `node` as overrides on top of `defaults`.
@@ -106,16 +118,25 @@ proc parseLogosDeliveryConf*(jsonStr: string): ConfResult[LogosDeliveryConf] =
     mode = ?parseMode(v.getStr())
     top.del(KeyMode)
 
-  if mode == LogosDeliveryMode.Fleet:
-    # Kernel-only: a raw kernelConf and no upper layers.
+  var entryLayer = EntryLayer.channels
+  if top.hasKey(KeyEntryLayer):
+    let (_, v) = top.getOrDefault(KeyEntryLayer)
+    if v.kind != JString:
+      return err("entryLayer must be a string")
+    entryLayer = ?parseEntryLayer(v.getStr())
+    top.del(KeyEntryLayer)
+
+  if entryLayer == EntryLayer.kernel:
+    # Kernel-only: a raw kernelConf and no upper layers; mode is ignored.
     if not top.hasKey(KeyKernelConf):
-      return err("fleet mode requires a 'kernelConf' object")
+      return err("kernel entry layer requires a 'kernelConf' object")
     let (_, v) = top.getOrDefault(KeyKernelConf)
     let kernel = ?parseOverrides(?defaultWakuNodeConf(), v, "kernelConf")
     top.del(KeyKernelConf)
     if top.len > 0:
-      return
-        err(unknownKeysError(top, "fleet mode takes only 'kernelConf'; unexpected"))
+      return err(
+        unknownKeysError(top, "kernel entry layer takes only 'kernelConf'; unexpected")
+      )
     return ok(LogosDeliveryConf.init(KernelConf(kernel)))
 
   # [Legacy flat JSON config] A wrapper key marks our structured shape. Otherwise any
@@ -158,6 +179,12 @@ proc parseLogosDeliveryConf*(jsonStr: string): ConfResult[LogosDeliveryConf] =
   if top.len > 0:
     return err(unknownKeysError(top, "Unrecognized configuration option(s) found"))
 
-  return LogosDeliveryConf.init(mode, preset, messagingOverrides, channelsOverrides)
+  return LogosDeliveryConf.init(
+    entryLayer = entryLayer,
+    mode = mode,
+    preset = preset,
+    messagingOverrides = messagingOverrides,
+    channelsOverrides = channelsOverrides,
+  )
 
 {.pop.}
diff --git a/logos_delivery/api/conf/messaging_conf.nim b/logos_delivery/api/conf/messaging_conf.nim
index a8c91acd7..32e1f1542 100644
--- a/logos_delivery/api/conf/messaging_conf.nim
+++ b/logos_delivery/api/conf/messaging_conf.nim
@@ -7,10 +7,8 @@ import logos_delivery/waku/factory/networks_config
 
 export kernel_conf
 
-type LogosDeliveryMode* {.pure.} = enum
-  Edge # client-only node
-  Core # full service node
-  Fleet # kernel-only node from a raw kernel config
+# `LogosDeliveryMode` and `EntryLayer` are defined at the leaf (`cli_args`) so
+# they can appear on `WakuNodeConf`; re-exported here via `kernel_conf`.
 
 type MessagingClientConf* = object
   clusterId* {.name: "cluster-id".}: Opt[uint16] ## Network cluster id.
@@ -69,9 +67,6 @@ proc applyMode*(conf: var WakuNodeConf, mode: LogosDeliveryMode): ConfResult[voi
     conf.filter = false
     conf.lightpush = false
     conf.store = false
-  of LogosDeliveryMode.Fleet:
-    return
-      err("fleet mode takes a raw kernel config; use LogosDelivery.new(kernelConf)")
   return ok()
 
 proc toWakuNodeConf*(
diff --git a/logos_delivery/api/conf/modes.nim b/logos_delivery/api/conf/modes.nim
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..56058aed9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/logos_delivery/api/conf/modes.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+## Leaf module for the app-level mode / entry-layer enums.
+##
+## These appear on `WakuNodeConf` (in the leaf `tools/confutils/cli_args`), so
+## they must live in a module that `cli_args` can import without a cycle — i.e.
+## a module that imports nothing from the config/api layers. `logos_delivery_conf`
+## re-exports them so consumers still get them from there.
+
+type LogosDeliveryMode* {.pure.} = enum
+  ## Drives the kernel-internal protocol mountings. Applied only for the
+  ## `messaging` / `channels` entry layers; ignored when `entryLayer == kernel`.
+  Edge # client-only node
+  Core # full service node
+
+type EntryLayer* {.pure.} = enum
+  ## Selects which API layer `LogosDelivery` instantiates.
+  kernel # transport kernel only; ignores `mode` and uses the config as-is
+  messaging # kernel + messaging client
+  channels # kernel + messaging + reliable channels
diff --git a/logos_delivery/logos_delivery.nim b/logos_delivery/logos_delivery.nim
index 463b0b343..55867e582 100644
--- a/logos_delivery/logos_delivery.nim
+++ b/logos_delivery/logos_delivery.nim
@@ -108,21 +108,38 @@ proc new*(
 proc new*(
     T: type LogosDelivery, conf: WakuNodeConf, appCallbacks: AppCallbacks = nil
 ): Future[Result[LogosDelivery, string]] {.async.} =
-  ## Builds the full stack from a kernel `WakuNodeConf`.
-  return await LogosDelivery.new(
-    LogosDeliveryConf(
-      kernelConf: KernelConf(conf),
-      messagingConf: Opt.some(MessagingClientConf()),
-      channelsConf: Opt.some(ReliableChannelManagerConf()),
-    ),
-    appCallbacks,
+  ## Builds the stack from a kernel `WakuNodeConf`, selecting which API layers to
+  ## instantiate by `conf.entryLayer`:
+  ##   kernel    -> transport only; `conf.mode` is ignored and the config is used as-is
+  ##   messaging -> kernel + messaging client
+  ##   channels  -> kernel + messaging + reliable channels
+  ## For `messaging`/`channels`, `conf.mode` (Edge/Core) sets the kernel protocol
+  ## flags first (messaging-level concern); for `kernel` it is skipped.
+  var kernelConf = conf
+  if conf.entryLayer != EntryLayer.kernel:
+    applyMode(kernelConf, conf.mode).isOkOr:
+      return err("failed to apply mode: " & error)
+
+  let ldConf = LogosDeliveryConf(
+    kernelConf: KernelConf(kernelConf),
+    messagingConf:
+      if conf.entryLayer == EntryLayer.kernel:
+        Opt.none(MessagingClientConf)
+      else:
+        Opt.some(MessagingClientConf()),
+    channelsConf:
+      if conf.entryLayer == EntryLayer.channels:
+        Opt.some(ReliableChannelManagerConf())
+      else:
+        Opt.none(ReliableChannelManagerConf),
   )
+  return await LogosDelivery.new(ldConf, appCallbacks)
 
 proc new*(
     T: type LogosDelivery, kernelConf: KernelConf, appCallbacks: AppCallbacks = nil
 ): Future[Result[LogosDelivery, string]] {.async.} =
-  ## Fleet mode: mounts the kernel only from a raw `KernelConf`; no messaging client,
-  ## no channel manager.
+  ## Kernel entry layer: mounts the kernel only from a raw `KernelConf`; no
+  ## messaging client, no channel manager.
   return await LogosDelivery.new(LogosDeliveryConf.init(kernelConf), appCallbacks)
 
 proc new*(
@@ -145,14 +162,23 @@ proc new*(
 
 proc new*(
     T: type LogosDelivery,
+    entryLayer: EntryLayer = EntryLayer.channels,
     mode: LogosDeliveryMode = LogosDeliveryMode.Core,
     preset: string = "",
     messagingOverrides: MessagingClientConf = MessagingClientConf(),
     channelsOverrides: ReliableChannelManagerConf = ReliableChannelManagerConf(),
     appCallbacks: AppCallbacks = nil,
 ): Future[Result[LogosDelivery, string]] {.async.} =
-  ## Messaging entry point (app dev). Builds the full stack from preset, mode and overrides.
-  let conf = LogosDeliveryConf.init(mode, preset, messagingOverrides, channelsOverrides).valueOr:
+  ## Messaging entry point (app dev). Builds the stack from preset, mode and
+  ## overrides; `entryLayer` selects messaging vs channels (use `new(kernelConf)`
+  ## for a kernel-only node).
+  let conf = LogosDeliveryConf.init(
+    entryLayer = entryLayer,
+    mode = mode,
+    preset = preset,
+    messagingOverrides = messagingOverrides,
+    channelsOverrides = channelsOverrides,
+  ).valueOr:
     return err("failed to synthesize configuration: " & error)
   return await LogosDelivery.new(conf, appCallbacks)
 
@@ -196,15 +222,15 @@ proc isOnline*(self: LogosDelivery): Future[Result[bool, string]] {.async.} =
   return await self.waku.isOnline()
 
 proc ensureMessaging*(self: LogosDelivery): Result[void, string] =
-  ## Fails if the node has no messaging client (a kernel-only / fleet node).
+  ## Fails if the node has no messaging client (a kernel-only node).
   if self.isNil() or self.messagingClient.isNil():
-    return err("node has no messaging client (kernel-only/fleet node)")
+    return err("node has no messaging client (kernel-only node)")
   ok()
 
 proc ensureChannels*(self: LogosDelivery): Result[void, string] =
-  ## Fails if the node has no reliable channel manager (a kernel-only / fleet node).
+  ## Fails if the node has no reliable channel manager (a kernel-only node).
   if self.isNil() or self.reliableChannelManager.isNil():
-    return err("node has no reliable channel manager (kernel-only/fleet node)")
+    return err("node has no reliable channel manager (kernel-only node)")
   ok()
 
 # Compile-time check that each concrete type satisfies its API concept.
diff --git a/tests/api/test_all.nim b/tests/api/test_all.nim
index 22af4748d..3d7bdee4b 100644
--- a/tests/api/test_all.nim
+++ b/tests/api/test_all.nim
@@ -8,4 +8,5 @@ import
   ./test_api_subscription,
   ./test_api_receive,
   ./test_api_health,
-  ./test_messaging_rest
+  ./test_messaging_rest,
+  ./test_entry_layer
diff --git a/tests/api/test_entry_layer.nim b/tests/api/test_entry_layer.nim
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..12fc92236
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/api/test_entry_layer.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+{.used.}
+
+import std/[options, net]
+import chronos, testutils/unittests
+import brokers/broker_context
+import logos_delivery
+import logos_delivery/api/conf/logos_delivery_conf
+import tools/confutils/cli_args
+import ../testlib/testasync
+
+## Validates the layer-selection invariant of `LogosDelivery.new(WakuNodeConf)`:
+## `messagingClient` (and `reliableChannelManager`) are instantiated only for the
+## entry layers that call for them.
+##
+##   kernel    -> waku only
+##   messaging -> waku + messagingClient
+##   channels  -> waku + messagingClient + reliableChannelManager
+
+proc nodeConf(entryLayer: EntryLayer): WakuNodeConf =
+  var conf = defaultWakuNodeConf().valueOr:
+    raiseAssert error
+  conf.entryLayer = entryLayer
+  conf.mode = LogosDeliveryMode.Core
+  conf.listenAddress = parseIpAddress("0.0.0.0")
+  conf.tcpPort = Port(0)
+  conf.discv5UdpPort = Port(0)
+  conf.clusterId = some(3'u16)
+  conf.numShardsInNetwork = 1
+  conf.rest = false
+  return conf
+
+suite "LogosDelivery - entry layer selection":
+  asyncTest "kernel: waku only, no messaging / channels":
+    var node: LogosDelivery
+    lockNewGlobalBrokerContext:
+      node = (await LogosDelivery.new(nodeConf(EntryLayer.kernel))).valueOr:
+        raiseAssert error
+    check:
+      not node.waku.isNil()
+      node.messagingClient.isNil()
+      node.reliableChannelManager.isNil()
+      node.ensureMessaging().isErr()
+      node.ensureChannels().isErr()
+    (await node.stop()).isOkOr:
+      raiseAssert "stop failed: " & error
+
+  asyncTest "messaging: waku + messagingClient, no channels":
+    var node: LogosDelivery
+    lockNewGlobalBrokerContext:
+      node = (await LogosDelivery.new(nodeConf(EntryLayer.messaging))).valueOr:
+        raiseAssert error
+    check:
+      not node.waku.isNil()
+      not node.messagingClient.isNil()
+      node.reliableChannelManager.isNil()
+      node.ensureMessaging().isOk()
+      node.ensureChannels().isErr()
+    (await node.stop()).isOkOr:
+      raiseAssert "stop failed: " & error
+
+  asyncTest "channels: full stack":
+    var node: LogosDelivery
+    lockNewGlobalBrokerContext:
+      node = (await LogosDelivery.new(nodeConf(EntryLayer.channels))).valueOr:
+        raiseAssert error
+    check:
+      not node.waku.isNil()
+      not node.messagingClient.isNil()
+      not node.reliableChannelManager.isNil()
+      node.ensureMessaging().isOk()
+      node.ensureChannels().isOk()
+    (await node.stop()).isOkOr:
+      raiseAssert "stop failed: " & error
diff --git a/tests/api/test_messaging_rest.nim b/tests/api/test_messaging_rest.nim
index 66c1816d8..91ebaf349 100644
--- a/tests/api/test_messaging_rest.nim
+++ b/tests/api/test_messaging_rest.nim
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import
 import brokers/broker_context
 import logos_delivery
 import
+  logos_delivery/api/conf/logos_delivery_conf,
   logos_delivery/messaging/rest_api/client as messaging_rest_client,
   logos_delivery/waku/rest_api/endpoint/client,
   logos_delivery/waku/common/base64
@@ -28,13 +29,13 @@ import ../testlib/[wakucore, testasync]
 proc restNodeConf(): WakuNodeConf =
   var conf = defaultWakuNodeConf().valueOr:
     raiseAssert error
-  conf.mode = cli_args.WakuMode.Core
+  conf.entryLayer = EntryLayer.messaging
+  conf.mode = LogosDeliveryMode.Core
   conf.listenAddress = parseIpAddress("0.0.0.0")
   conf.tcpPort = Port(0)
   conf.discv5UdpPort = Port(0)
   conf.clusterId = some(3'u16)
   conf.numShardsInNetwork = 1
-  conf.reliabilityEnabled = some(true)
   conf.rest = true
   conf.restAddress = parseIpAddress("127.0.0.1")
   conf.restPort = 0'u16 # bind to an ephemeral port
diff --git a/tools/confutils/cli_args.nim b/tools/confutils/cli_args.nim
index 1774f1445..1cb6292d2 100644
--- a/tools/confutils/cli_args.nim
+++ b/tools/confutils/cli_args.nim
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import
   json
 
 import
+  logos_delivery/api/conf/modes,
   logos_delivery/waku/factory/[waku_conf, conf_builder/conf_builder, networks_config],
   logos_delivery/waku/common/[logging],
   logos_delivery/waku/[
@@ -37,7 +38,7 @@ import ./envvar as confEnvvarDefs, ./envvar_net as confEnvvarNet
 
 export
   confTomlDefs, confTomlNet, confEnvvarDefs, confEnvvarNet, ProtectedShard,
-  DefaultMaxWakuMessageSizeStr, DefaultAgentString
+  DefaultMaxWakuMessageSizeStr, DefaultAgentString, modes
 
 logScope:
   topics = "waku cli args"
@@ -168,6 +169,20 @@ type WakuNodeConf* = object
       name: "preset"
     .}: string
 
+    entryLayer* {.
+      desc:
+        "Top API layer to run: kernel (transport only), messaging, or channels (messaging + reliable channels).",
+      defaultValue: EntryLayer.channels,
+      name: "entry-layer"
+    .}: EntryLayer
+
+    mode* {.
+      desc:
+        "Kernel operating mode: Edge (client-only) or Core (full service node). Applied only for --entry-layer=messaging|channels; ignored for kernel.",
+      defaultValue: LogosDeliveryMode.Core,
+      name: "mode"
+    .}: LogosDeliveryMode
+
     # Opt-typed; desc states the default since the CLI can't auto-show it for Opt.none().
     clusterId* {.
       desc: static(