diff --git a/packages/backend-defaults/src/CreateBackend.ts b/packages/backend-defaults/src/CreateBackend.ts
index 4b201fded3..9f8116a996 100644
--- a/packages/backend-defaults/src/CreateBackend.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-defaults/src/CreateBackend.ts
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ import {
   actionsRegistryServiceFactory,
   actionsServiceFactory,
 } from '@backstage/backend-defaults/alpha';
+import { instanceMetadataServiceFactory } from './alpha/entrypoints/instanceMetadata/instanceMetadataServiceFactory';
 
 export const defaultServiceFactories = [
   auditorServiceFactory,
@@ -65,6 +66,9 @@ export const defaultServiceFactories = [
   // alpha services
   actionsRegistryServiceFactory,
   actionsServiceFactory,
+
+  // Unexported alpha services kept around for compatibility reasons
+  instanceMetadataServiceFactory,
 ];
 
 /**
diff --git a/packages/backend/package.json b/packages/backend/package.json
index 3ea09f7540..2af36b8077 100644
--- a/packages/backend/package.json
+++ b/packages/backend/package.json
@@ -69,8 +69,7 @@
     "@opentelemetry/auto-instrumentations-node": "^0.61.0",
     "@opentelemetry/exporter-prometheus": "^0.54.0",
     "@opentelemetry/sdk-node": "^0.54.0",
-    "example-app": "link:../app",
-    "express-promise-router": "^4.1.0"
+    "example-app": "link:../app"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "@backstage/cli": "workspace:^"