diff --git a/cmd/glbc/main.go b/cmd/glbc/main.go
index 4f1c2fa621..87739dab37 100644
--- a/cmd/glbc/main.go
+++ b/cmd/glbc/main.go
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/client-go/tools/leaderelection/resourcelock"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/tools/record"
 	backendconfigclient "k8s.io/ingress-gce/pkg/backendconfig/client/clientset/versioned"
-	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce"
 
 	"k8s.io/ingress-gce/pkg/context"
 	"k8s.io/ingress-gce/pkg/controller"
@@ -101,7 +100,7 @@ func main() {
 	}
 
 	cloud := app.NewGCEClient()
-	enableNEG := cloud.AlphaFeatureGate.Enabled(gce.AlphaFeatureNetworkEndpointGroup)
+	enableNEG := flags.F.Features.NEG
 	ctx := context.NewControllerContext(kubeClient, backendConfigClient, cloud, flags.F.WatchNamespace, flags.F.ResyncPeriod, enableNEG, flags.F.EnableBackendConfig)
 	go app.RunHTTPServer(ctx.HealthCheck)
 
diff --git a/pkg/flags/flags.go b/pkg/flags/flags.go
index 9737b06800..80723ceec0 100644
--- a/pkg/flags/flags.go
+++ b/pkg/flags/flags.go
@@ -122,10 +122,13 @@ type Features struct {
 	// Http2 enables ProtocolHTTP2 as a valid annotation key on Service, which
 	// allows the creation HTTP2 BackendServices and HealthChecks. Alpha-only.
 	Http2 bool
+	// NEG enables using NetworkEndpointGroups instead of IGs as backends
+	NEG bool
 }
 
 var DefaultFeatures = &Features{
 	Http2: true,
+	NEG:   true,
 }
 
 func EnabledFeatures() *Features {