diff --git a/artiq/coredevice/jsondesc.py b/artiq/coredevice/jsondesc.py
index 58f14d8b0..f59fbf886 100644
--- a/artiq/coredevice/jsondesc.py
+++ b/artiq/coredevice/jsondesc.py
@@ -32,4 +32,7 @@ def load(description_path):
     global validator
     validator.validate(result)
 
+    if result["base"] != "use_drtio_role":
+        result["drtio_role"] = result["base"]
+
     return result
diff --git a/artiq/frontend/artiq_ddb_template.py b/artiq/frontend/artiq_ddb_template.py
index 9e5ea1364..b0000e839 100755
--- a/artiq/frontend/artiq_ddb_template.py
+++ b/artiq/frontend/artiq_ddb_template.py
@@ -687,14 +687,10 @@ def main():
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
     primary_description = jsondesc.load(args.primary_description)
-    if primary_description["base"] != "use_drtio_role":
-        primary_description["drtio_role"] = primary_description["base"]
 
     satellites = []
     for destination, description_path in args.satellite:
         satellite_description = jsondesc.load(description_path)
-        if satellite_description["base"] != "use_drtio_role":
-            satellite_description["drtio_role"] = satellite_description["base"]
         satellites.append((int(destination, 0), satellite_description))
 
     if args.output is not None:
diff --git a/artiq/gateware/targets/kasli_generic.py b/artiq/gateware/targets/kasli_generic.py
index 62a56b9dd..310cc1039 100755
--- a/artiq/gateware/targets/kasli_generic.py
+++ b/artiq/gateware/targets/kasli_generic.py
@@ -150,8 +150,6 @@ def main():
                         help="Override ROM identifier")
     args = parser.parse_args()
     description = jsondesc.load(args.description)
-    if description["base"] != "use_drtio_role":
-        description["drtio_role"] = description["base"]
 
     min_artiq_version = description.get("min_artiq_version", "0")
     if Version(artiq_version) < Version(min_artiq_version):