diff --git a/src/bin/sage-runtests b/src/bin/sage-runtests
index 6b92c980cfb..4131161647d 100755
--- a/src/bin/sage-runtests
+++ b/src/bin/sage-runtests
@@ -52,6 +52,10 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
              'if set to "all", then all tests will be run; '
              'use "!FEATURE" to disable tests marked "# optional - FEATURE". '
              'Note that "!" needs to be quoted or escaped in the shell.')
+    parser.add_argument("--hide", metavar="FEATURES", default="",
+        help='run tests pretending that the software listed in FEATURES (separated by commas) is not installed; '
+             'if "all" is listed, will also hide features corresponding to all optional or experimental packages; '
+             'if "optional" is listed, will also hide features corresponding to optional packages.')
     parser.add_argument("--randorder", type=int, metavar="SEED", help="randomize order of tests")
     parser.add_argument("--random-seed", dest="random_seed", type=int, metavar="SEED", help="random seed (integer) for fuzzing doctests",
                         default=os.environ.get("SAGE_DOCTEST_RANDOM_SEED"))
diff --git a/src/sage/doctest/control.py b/src/sage/doctest/control.py
index abaa33f6239..5aae3f020c6 100644
--- a/src/sage/doctest/control.py
+++ b/src/sage/doctest/control.py
@@ -57,7 +57,6 @@
 except ImportError:
     pass
 
-
 class DocTestDefaults(SageObject):
     """
     This class is used for doctesting the Sage doctest module.
@@ -137,6 +136,7 @@ def __init__(self, **kwds):
         # displaying user-defined optional tags and we don't want to see
         # the auto_optional_tags there.
         self.optional = set(['sage']) | auto_optional_tags
+        self.hide = ''
 
         # > 0: always run GC before every test
         # < 0: disable GC
@@ -401,6 +401,27 @@ def __init__(self, options, args):
         if options.verbose:
             options.show_skipped = True
 
+        options.hidden_features = set()
+        if isinstance(options.hide, str):
+            if not len(options.hide):
+                options.hide = set([])
+            else:
+                s = options.hide.lower()
+                options.hide = set(s.split(','))
+                for h in options.hide:
+                    if not optionaltag_regex.search(h):
+                        raise ValueError('invalid optional tag {!r}'.format(h))
+            if 'all' in options.hide:
+                options.hide.discard('all')
+                from sage.features.all import all_features
+                feature_names = set([f.name for f in all_features() if not f.is_standard()])
+                options.hide = options.hide.union(feature_names)
+            if 'optional' in options.hide:
+                options.hide.discard('optional')
+                from sage.features.all import all_features
+                feature_names = set([f.name for f in all_features() if f.is_optional()])
+                options.hide = options.hide.union(feature_names)
+
         options.disabled_optional = set()
         if isinstance(options.optional, str):
             s = options.optional.lower()
@@ -417,6 +438,8 @@ def __init__(self, options, args):
                     options.optional.discard('optional')
                     from sage.misc.package import list_packages
                     for pkg in list_packages('optional', local=True).values():
+                        if pkg.name in options.hide:
+                            continue
                         if pkg.is_installed() and pkg.installed_version == pkg.remote_version:
                             options.optional.add(pkg.name)
 
@@ -1330,6 +1353,49 @@ def run(self):
             Features detected...
             0
 
+        We test the ``--hide`` option (:trac:`34185`)::
+
+            sage: from sage.doctest.control import test_hide
+            sage: filename = tmp_filename(ext='.py')
+            sage: with open(filename, 'w') as f:
+            ....:     f.write(test_hide)
+            ....:     f.close()
+            729
+            sage: DF = DocTestDefaults(hide='buckygen,all')
+            sage: DC = DocTestController(DF, [filename])
+            sage: DC.run()
+            Running doctests with ID ...
+            Using --optional=sage...
+            Features to be detected: ...
+            Doctesting 1 file.
+            sage -t ....py
+                [4 tests, ... s]
+            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
+            All tests passed!
+            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
+            Total time for all tests: ... seconds
+                cpu time: ... seconds
+                cumulative wall time: ... seconds
+            Features detected...
+            0
+
+            sage: DF = DocTestDefaults(hide='benzene,optional')
+            sage: DC = DocTestController(DF, [filename])
+            sage: DC.run()
+            Running doctests with ID ...
+            Using --optional=sage
+            Features to be detected: ...
+            Doctesting 1 file.
+            sage -t ....py
+                [4 tests, ... s]
+            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
+            All tests passed!
+            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
+            Total time for all tests: ... seconds
+                cpu time: ... seconds
+                cumulative wall time: ... seconds
+            Features detected...
+            0
         """
         opt = self.options
         L = (opt.gdb, opt.lldb, opt.valgrind, opt.massif, opt.cachegrind, opt.omega)
@@ -1370,6 +1436,21 @@ def run(self):
 
             self.log("Using --optional=" + self._optional_tags_string())
             available_software._allow_external = self.options.optional is True or 'external' in self.options.optional
+
+            for h in self.options.hide:
+                try:
+                    i = available_software._indices[h]
+                except KeyError:
+                    pass
+                else:
+                    f = available_software._features[i]
+                    if f.is_present():
+                        f.hide()
+                        self.options.hidden_features.add(f)
+                        for g in f.joined_features():
+                            if g.name in self.options.optional:
+                                self.options.optional.discard(g.name)
+
             for o in self.options.disabled_optional:
                 try:
                     i = available_software._indices[o]
@@ -1379,12 +1460,17 @@ def run(self):
                     available_software._seen[i] = -1
 
             self.log("Features to be detected: " + ','.join(available_software.detectable()))
+            if self.options.hidden_features:
+                self.log("Hidden features: " + ','.join([f.name for f in self.options.hidden_features]))
             self.add_files()
             self.expand_files_into_sources()
             self.filter_sources()
             self.sort_sources()
             self.run_doctests()
 
+            for f in self.options.hidden_features:
+                f.unhide()
+
             self.log("Features detected for doctesting: "
                      + ','.join(available_software.seen()))
             self.cleanup()
@@ -1465,3 +1551,34 @@ def stringify(x):
         if not save_dtmode and IP is not None:
             IP.run_line_magic('colors', old_color)
             IP.config.TerminalInteractiveShell.colors = old_config_color
+
+
+###############################################################################
+# Declaration of doctest strings
+###############################################################################
+
+test_hide=r"""r{quotmark}
+{prompt}: next(graphs.fullerenes(20))
+Traceback (most recent call last):
+ ...
+FeatureNotPresentError: buckygen is not available.
+...
+{prompt}: next(graphs.fullerenes(20))   # optional buckygen
+Graph on 20 vertices
+
+{prompt}: len(list(graphs.fusenes(2)))
+Traceback (most recent call last):
+ ...
+FeatureNotPresentError: benzene is not available.
+...
+{prompt}: len(list(graphs.fusenes(2)))  # optional benzene
+1
+{prompt}: from sage.matrix.matrix_space import get_matrix_class
+{prompt}: get_matrix_class(GF(25,'x'), 4, 4, False, 'meataxe')
+Failed lazy import:
+sage.matrix.matrix_gfpn_dense is not available.
+...
+{prompt}: get_matrix_class(GF(25,'x'), 4, 4, False, 'meataxe') # optional meataxe
+<class 'sage.matrix.matrix_gfpn_dense.Matrix_gfpn_dense'>
+{quotmark}
+""".format(quotmark='"""', prompt='sage')  # using prompt to hide these lines from _test_enough_doctests
diff --git a/src/sage/features/__init__.py b/src/sage/features/__init__.py
index 5f5f9affc5f..5deb0085a63 100644
--- a/src/sage/features/__init__.py
+++ b/src/sage/features/__init__.py
@@ -87,8 +87,10 @@ def __call__(cls, *args, **kwds):
         else:
             return type.__call__(cls, *args, **kwds)
 
+
 _trivial_unique_representation_cache = dict()
 
+
 class TrivialUniqueRepresentation(metaclass=TrivialClasscallMetaClass):
     r"""
     A trivial version of :class:`UniqueRepresentation` without Cython dependencies.
@@ -105,6 +107,7 @@ def __classcall__(cls, *args, **options):
             cached = _trivial_unique_representation_cache[key] = type.__call__(cls, *args, **options)
         return cached
 
+
 class Feature(TrivialUniqueRepresentation):
     r"""
     A feature of the runtime environment
@@ -121,6 +124,8 @@ class Feature(TrivialUniqueRepresentation):
 
     - ``url`` -- a URL for the upstream package providing the feature
 
+    - ``type`` -- (string) one of ``'standard'``, ``'optional'`` (default), ``'experimental'``
+
     Overwrite :meth:`_is_present` to add feature checks.
 
     EXAMPLES::
@@ -134,7 +139,7 @@ class Feature(TrivialUniqueRepresentation):
         sage: GapPackage("grape") is GapPackage("grape")
         True
     """
-    def __init__(self, name, spkg=None, url=None, description=None):
+    def __init__(self, name, spkg=None, url=None, description=None, type='optional'):
         r"""
         TESTS::
 
@@ -150,6 +155,20 @@ def __init__(self, name, spkg=None, url=None, description=None):
 
         self._cache_is_present = None
         self._cache_resolution = None
+        self._hidden = False
+        self._type = type
+
+        try:
+            from sage.misc.package import spkg_type
+        except ImportError:  # may have been surgically removed in a downstream distribution
+            pass
+        else:
+            if spkg and (t := spkg_type(spkg)) not in (type, None):
+                from warnings import warn
+                warn(f'Feature {name} is declared {type}, '
+                     f'but it is provided by {spkg}, '
+                     f'which is declared {t} in SAGE_ROOT/build/pkgs',
+                     stacklevel=3)
 
     def is_present(self):
         r"""
@@ -186,6 +205,8 @@ def is_present(self):
             sage: TestFeature("other").is_present()
             FeatureTestResult('other', True)
         """
+        if self._hidden:
+            return FeatureTestResult(self, False, reason="Feature `{name}` is hidden.".format(name=self.name))
         # We do not use @cached_method here because we wish to use
         # Feature early in the build system of sagelib.
         if self._cache_is_present is None:
@@ -238,6 +259,25 @@ def __repr__(self):
         description = f'{self.name!r}: {self.description}' if self.description else f'{self.name!r}'
         return f'Feature({description})'
 
+    def _spkg_type(self):
+        r"""
+        Return the type of this feature.
+
+        For features provided by an SPKG in the Sage distribution,
+        this should match the SPKG type, or a warning will be issued.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: from sage.features.databases import DatabaseCremona
+            sage: DatabaseCremona()._spkg_type()
+            'optional'
+
+        OUTPUT:
+
+        The type as a string in ``('base', 'standard', 'optional', 'experimental')``.
+        """
+        return self._type
+
     def resolution(self):
         r"""
         Return a suggestion on how to make :meth:`is_present` pass if it did not
@@ -253,6 +293,8 @@ def resolution(self):
             sage: Executable(name="CSDP", spkg="csdp", executable="theta", url="https://github.com/dimpase/csdp").resolution()  # optional - sage_spkg
             '...To install CSDP...you can try to run...sage -i csdp...Further installation instructions might be available at https://github.com/dimpase/csdp.'
         """
+        if self._hidden:
+            return "Use method `unhide` to make it available again."
         if self._cache_resolution is not None:
             return self._cache_resolution
         lines = []
@@ -264,6 +306,117 @@ def resolution(self):
         self._cache_resolution = "\n".join(lines)
         return self._cache_resolution
 
+    def joined_features(self):
+        r"""
+        Return a list of features that ``self`` is the join of.
+
+        OUTPUT:
+
+        A (possibly empty) list of instances of :class:`Feature`.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: from sage.features.graphviz import Graphviz
+            sage: Graphviz().joined_features()
+            [Feature('dot'), Feature('neato'), Feature('twopi')]
+            sage: from sage.features.sagemath import sage__rings__function_field
+            sage: sage__rings__function_field().joined_features()
+            [Feature('sage.rings.function_field.function_field_polymod'),
+            Feature('sage.libs.singular'),
+            Feature('sage.libs.singular.singular'),
+            Feature('sage.interfaces.singular')]
+            sage: from sage.features.interfaces import Mathematica
+            sage: Mathematica().joined_features()
+            []
+        """
+        from sage.features.join_feature import JoinFeature
+        res = []
+        if isinstance(self, JoinFeature):
+            for f in self._features:
+                res += [f] + f.joined_features()
+        return res
+
+    def is_standard(self):
+        r"""
+        Return whether this feature corresponds to a standard SPKG.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: from sage.features.databases import DatabaseCremona, DatabaseConwayPolynomials
+            sage: DatabaseCremona().is_standard()
+            False
+            sage: DatabaseConwayPolynomials().is_standard()
+            True
+        """
+        if self.name.startswith('sage.'):
+            return True
+        return self._spkg_type() == 'standard'
+
+    def is_optional(self):
+        r"""
+        Return whether this feature corresponds to an optional SPKG.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: from sage.features.databases import DatabaseCremona, DatabaseConwayPolynomials
+            sage: DatabaseCremona().is_optional()
+            True
+            sage: DatabaseConwayPolynomials().is_optional()
+            False
+        """
+        return self._spkg_type() == 'optional'
+
+    def hide(self):
+        r"""
+        Hide this feature. For example this is used when the doctest option
+        ``--hide`` is set. Setting an installed feature as hidden pretends
+        that it is not available. To revert this use :meth:`unhide`.
+
+        EXAMPLES:
+
+        Benzene is an optional SPKG. The following test fails if it is hidden or
+        not installed. Thus, in the second invocation the optional tag is needed::
+
+            sage: from sage.features.graph_generators import Benzene
+            sage: Benzene().hide()
+            sage: len(list(graphs.fusenes(2)))
+            Traceback (most recent call last):
+            ...
+            FeatureNotPresentError: benzene is not available.
+            Feature `benzene` is hidden.
+            Use method `unhide` to make it available again.
+
+            sage: Benzene().unhide()
+            sage: len(list(graphs.fusenes(2)))  # optional benzene
+            1
+        """
+        self._hidden = True
+
+    def unhide(self):
+        r"""
+        Revert what :meth:`hide` does.
+
+        EXAMPLES:
+
+        Polycyclic is a standard GAP package since 4.10 (see :trac:`26856`). The
+        following test just fails if it is hidden. Thus, in the second
+        invocation no optional tag is needed::
+
+            sage: from sage.features.gap import GapPackage
+            sage: Polycyclic = GapPackage("polycyclic", spkg="gap_packages")
+            sage: Polycyclic.hide()
+            sage: libgap(AbelianGroup(3, [0,3,4], names="abc"))
+            Traceback (most recent call last):
+            ...
+            FeatureNotPresentError: gap_package_polycyclic is not available.
+            Feature `gap_package_polycyclic` is hidden.
+            Use method `unhide` to make it available again.
+
+            sage: Polycyclic.unhide()
+            sage: libgap(AbelianGroup(3, [0,3,4], names="abc"))
+            Pcp-group with orders [ 0, 3, 4 ]
+        """
+        self._hidden = False
 
 class FeatureNotPresentError(RuntimeError):
     r"""
@@ -682,7 +835,9 @@ def absolute_filename(self) -> str:
         A :class:`FeatureNotPresentError` is raised if the file cannot be found::
 
             sage: from sage.features import StaticFile
-            sage: StaticFile(name="no_such_file", filename="KaT1aihu", search_path=(), spkg="some_spkg", url="http://rand.om").absolute_filename()  # optional - sage_spkg
+            sage: StaticFile(name="no_such_file", filename="KaT1aihu",\
+                             search_path=(), spkg="some_spkg",\
+                             url="http://rand.om").absolute_filename()  # optional - sage_spkg
             Traceback (most recent call last):
             ...
             FeatureNotPresentError: no_such_file is not available.
@@ -694,9 +849,8 @@ def absolute_filename(self) -> str:
             path = os.path.join(directory, self.filename)
             if os.path.isfile(path) or os.path.isdir(path):
                 return os.path.abspath(path)
-        raise FeatureNotPresentError(self,
-            reason="{filename!r} not found in any of {search_path}".format(filename=self.filename, search_path=self.search_path),
-            resolution=self.resolution())
+        reason = "{filename!r} not found in any of {search_path}".format(filename=self.filename, search_path=self.search_path)
+        raise FeatureNotPresentError(self, reason=reason, resolution=self.resolution())
 
 
 class CythonFeature(Feature):
@@ -716,7 +870,7 @@ class CythonFeature(Feature):
         ....:
         ....: assert fabs(-1) == 1
         ....: '''
-        sage: fabs = CythonFeature("fabs", test_code=fabs_test_code, spkg="gcc", url="https://gnu.org")
+        sage: fabs = CythonFeature("fabs", test_code=fabs_test_code, spkg="gcc", url="https://gnu.org", type="standard")
         sage: fabs.is_present()
         FeatureTestResult('fabs', True)
 
diff --git a/src/sage/features/cddlib.py b/src/sage/features/cddlib.py
index b37f0304948..b8fdb6fed8e 100644
--- a/src/sage/features/cddlib.py
+++ b/src/sage/features/cddlib.py
@@ -34,4 +34,4 @@ def __init__(self, name='cddexec_gmp'):
             True
         """
         Executable.__init__(self, name=name, executable=name, spkg="cddlib",
-                            url="https://github.com/cddlib/cddlib")
+                            url="https://github.com/cddlib/cddlib", type="standard")
diff --git a/src/sage/features/databases.py b/src/sage/features/databases.py
index 216dbb04af3..f9b297b1e30 100644
--- a/src/sage/features/databases.py
+++ b/src/sage/features/databases.py
@@ -52,7 +52,8 @@ def __init__(self):
                             filename='conway_polynomials.p',
                             search_path=search_path,
                             spkg='conway_polynomials',
-                            description="Frank Luebeck's database of Conway polynomials")
+                            description="Frank Luebeck's database of Conway polynomials",
+                            type='standard')
 
 
 CREMONA_DATA_DIRS = set([CREMONA_MINI_DATA_DIR, CREMONA_LARGE_DATA_DIR])
diff --git a/src/sage/features/gfan.py b/src/sage/features/gfan.py
index 040ea64ec5d..a58090b4c91 100644
--- a/src/sage/features/gfan.py
+++ b/src/sage/features/gfan.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ def __init__(self, cmd=None):
             name = "gfan"
         else:
             name = f"gfan_{cmd}"
-        Executable.__init__(self, name, executable=name, spkg="gfan")
+        Executable.__init__(self, name, executable=name, spkg="gfan", type='standard')
 
 
 def all_features():
diff --git a/src/sage/features/join_feature.py b/src/sage/features/join_feature.py
index d02ad669833..802cb433ba3 100644
--- a/src/sage/features/join_feature.py
+++ b/src/sage/features/join_feature.py
@@ -46,7 +46,9 @@ class JoinFeature(Feature):
         sage: F.is_present()
         FeatureTestResult('xxyyyy', False)
     """
-    def __init__(self, name, features, spkg=None, url=None, description=None):
+
+    def __init__(self, name, features, spkg=None, url=None, description=None, type=None,
+                 **kwds):
         """
         TESTS:
 
@@ -68,7 +70,15 @@ def __init__(self, name, features, spkg=None, url=None, description=None):
                 raise ValueError('given features have more than one url; provide url argument')
             elif len(urls) == 1:
                 url = next(iter(urls))
-        super().__init__(name, spkg=spkg, url=url, description=description)
+        if type is None:
+            if any(f._spkg_type() == 'experimental' for f in features):
+                type = 'experimental'
+            elif any(f._spkg_type() == 'optional' for f in features):
+                type = 'optional'
+            else:
+                type = 'standard'
+
+        super().__init__(name, spkg=spkg, url=url, description=description, type=type, **kwds)
         self._features = features
 
     def _is_present(self):
@@ -116,3 +126,50 @@ def is_functional(self):
             if not test:
                 return test
         return FeatureTestResult(self, True)
+
+    def hide(self):
+        r"""
+        Hide this feature and all its joined features.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: from sage.features.sagemath import sage__groups
+            sage: f = sage__groups()
+            sage: f.hide()
+            sage: f._features[0].is_present()
+            FeatureTestResult('sage.groups.perm_gps.permgroup', False)
+
+            sage: f.require()
+            Traceback (most recent call last):
+            ...
+            FeatureNotPresentError: sage.groups is not available.
+            Feature `sage.groups` is hidden.
+            Use method `unhide` to make it available again.
+        """
+        for f in self._features:
+            f.hide()
+        super(JoinFeature, self).hide()
+
+    def unhide(self):
+        r"""
+        Revert what :meth:`hide` does.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: from sage.features.sagemath import sage__groups
+            sage: f = sage__groups()
+            sage: f.hide()
+            sage: f.is_present()
+            FeatureTestResult('sage.groups', False)
+            sage: f._features[0].is_present()
+            FeatureTestResult('sage.groups.perm_gps.permgroup', False)
+
+            sage: f.unhide()
+            sage: f.is_present()    # optional sage.groups
+            FeatureTestResult('sage.groups', True)
+            sage: f._features[0].is_present() # optional sage.groups
+            FeatureTestResult('sage.groups.perm_gps.permgroup', True)
+        """
+        for f in self._features:
+            f.unhide()
+        super(JoinFeature, self).unhide()
diff --git a/src/sage/features/mip_backends.py b/src/sage/features/mip_backends.py
index d276e25abe8..98b4766c1f5 100644
--- a/src/sage/features/mip_backends.py
+++ b/src/sage/features/mip_backends.py
@@ -102,7 +102,8 @@ def __init__(self):
         JoinFeature.__init__(self, 'cvxopt',
                              [MIPBackend('CVXOPT'),
                               PythonModule('cvxopt')],
-                             spkg='cvxopt')
+                             spkg='cvxopt',
+                             type='standard')
 
 
 def all_features():
diff --git a/src/sage/features/nauty.py b/src/sage/features/nauty.py
index f57b5de2363..ebd2daeb311 100644
--- a/src/sage/features/nauty.py
+++ b/src/sage/features/nauty.py
@@ -37,7 +37,8 @@ def __init__(self, name):
         """
         Executable.__init__(self, name=f"nauty_{name}",
                             executable=f"{SAGE_NAUTY_BINS_PREFIX}{name}",
-                            spkg="nauty")
+                            spkg="nauty",
+                            type="standard")
 
 
 class Nauty(JoinFeature):
diff --git a/src/sage/features/palp.py b/src/sage/features/palp.py
index 35758a0ecc7..b58a8fc2e54 100644
--- a/src/sage/features/palp.py
+++ b/src/sage/features/palp.py
@@ -36,11 +36,11 @@ def __init__(self, palpprog, suff=None):
         if suff:
             Executable.__init__(self, f"palp_{palpprog}_{suff}d",
                                 executable=f"{palpprog}-{suff}d.x",
-                                spkg="palp")
+                                spkg="palp", type="standard")
         else:
             Executable.__init__(self, f"palp_{palpprog}",
                                 executable=f"{palpprog}.x",
-                                spkg="palp")
+                                spkg="palp", type="standard")
 
 class Palp(JoinFeature):
     r"""
diff --git a/src/sage/features/sagemath.py b/src/sage/features/sagemath.py
index 969747b34e8..580be376237 100644
--- a/src/sage/features/sagemath.py
+++ b/src/sage/features/sagemath.py
@@ -40,7 +40,8 @@ def __init__(self):
         StaticFile.__init__(self, 'sagemath_doc_html',
                             filename='html',
                             search_path=(SAGE_DOC,),
-                            spkg='sagemath_doc_html')
+                            spkg='sagemath_doc_html',
+                            type='standard')
 
 
 class sage__combinat(JoinFeature):
@@ -67,7 +68,7 @@ def __init__(self):
         # Hence, we test a Python module within the package.
         JoinFeature.__init__(self, 'sage.combinat',
                              [PythonModule('sage.combinat.tableau')],
-                             spkg='sagemath_combinat')
+                             spkg='sagemath_combinat', type="standard")
 
 
 class sage__geometry__polyhedron(PythonModule):
@@ -90,7 +91,7 @@ def __init__(self):
             True
         """
         PythonModule.__init__(self, 'sage.geometry.polyhedron',
-                              spkg='sagemath_polyhedra')
+                              spkg='sagemath_polyhedra', type="standard")
 
 
 class sage__graphs(JoinFeature):
@@ -113,7 +114,7 @@ def __init__(self):
         """
         JoinFeature.__init__(self, 'sage.graphs',
                              [PythonModule('sage.graphs.graph')],
-                             spkg='sagemath_graphs')
+                             spkg='sagemath_graphs', type="standard")
 
 
 class sage__modular(JoinFeature):
@@ -136,7 +137,7 @@ def __init__(self):
         """
         JoinFeature.__init__(self, 'sage.modular',
                              [PythonModule('sage.modular.modform.eisenstein_submodule')],
-                             spkg='sagemath_schemes')
+                             spkg='sagemath_schemes', type='standard')
 
 
 class sage__groups(JoinFeature):
@@ -158,7 +159,8 @@ def __init__(self):
             True
         """
         JoinFeature.__init__(self, 'sage.groups',
-                             [PythonModule('sage.groups.perm_gps.permgroup')])
+                             [PythonModule('sage.groups.perm_gps.permgroup')],
+                             spkg='sagemath_groups', type='standard')
 
 
 class sage__libs__flint(JoinFeature):
@@ -183,7 +185,7 @@ def __init__(self):
         JoinFeature.__init__(self, 'sage.libs.flint',
                              [PythonModule('sage.libs.flint.flint'),
                               PythonModule('sage.libs.arb.arith')],
-                             spkg='sagemath_flint')
+                             spkg='sagemath_flint', type='standard')
 
 
 class sage__libs__ntl(JoinFeature):
@@ -207,7 +209,7 @@ def __init__(self):
         """
         JoinFeature.__init__(self, 'sage.libs.ntl',
                              [PythonModule('sage.libs.ntl.convert')],
-                             spkg='sagemath_ntl')
+                             spkg='sagemath_ntl', type='standard')
 
 
 class sage__libs__pari(JoinFeature):
@@ -230,7 +232,7 @@ def __init__(self):
         """
         JoinFeature.__init__(self, 'sage.libs.pari',
                              [PythonModule('sage.libs.pari.convert_sage')],
-                             spkg='sagemath_pari')
+                             spkg='sagemath_pari', type='standard')
 
 
 class sage__modules(JoinFeature):
@@ -253,7 +255,7 @@ def __init__(self):
         """
         JoinFeature.__init__(self, 'sage.modules',
                              [PythonModule('sage.modules.free_module')],
-                             spkg='sagemath_modules')
+                             spkg='sagemath_modules', type='standard')
 
 
 class sage__plot(JoinFeature):
@@ -276,7 +278,7 @@ def __init__(self):
         """
         JoinFeature.__init__(self, 'sage.plot',
                              [PythonModule('sage.plot.plot')],
-                             spkg='sagemath_symbolics')
+                             spkg='sagemath_symbolics', type='standard')
 
 
 class sage__rings__finite_rings(JoinFeature):
@@ -299,7 +301,8 @@ def __init__(self):
             True
         """
         JoinFeature.__init__(self, 'sage.rings.finite_rings',
-                             [PythonModule('sage.rings.finite_rings.element_pari_ffelt')])
+                             [PythonModule('sage.rings.finite_rings.element_pari_ffelt')],
+                             type='standard')
 
 
 class sage__rings__function_field(JoinFeature):
@@ -322,7 +325,8 @@ def __init__(self):
         """
         JoinFeature.__init__(self, 'sage.rings.function_field',
                              [PythonModule('sage.rings.function_field.function_field_polymod'),
-                              sage__libs__singular()])
+                              sage__libs__singular()],
+                             type='standard')
 
 
 class sage__rings__number_field(JoinFeature):
@@ -344,7 +348,8 @@ def __init__(self):
             True
         """
         JoinFeature.__init__(self, 'sage.rings.number_field',
-                             [PythonModule('sage.rings.number_field.number_field_element')])
+                             [PythonModule('sage.rings.number_field.number_field_element')],
+                             type='standard')
 
 
 class sage__rings__padics(JoinFeature):
@@ -366,7 +371,8 @@ def __init__(self):
             True
         """
         JoinFeature.__init__(self, 'sage.rings.padics',
-                             [PythonModule('sage.rings.padics.factory')])
+                             [PythonModule('sage.rings.padics.factory')],
+                             type='standard')
 
 
 class sage__rings__polynomial__pbori(JoinFeature):
@@ -389,7 +395,7 @@ def __init__(self):
         """
         JoinFeature.__init__(self, 'sage.rings.polynomial.pbori',
                              [PythonModule('sage.rings.polynomial.pbori.pbori')],
-                             spkg='sagemath_brial')
+                             spkg='sagemath_brial', type='standard')
 
 
 class sage__rings__real_double(PythonModule):
diff --git a/src/sage/features/singular.py b/src/sage/features/singular.py
index 5c83ff8a099..64a24320044 100644
--- a/src/sage/features/singular.py
+++ b/src/sage/features/singular.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ def __init__(self):
             True
         """
         Executable.__init__(self, "singular", SINGULAR_BIN,
-                            spkg='singular')
+                            spkg='singular', type='standard')
 
 
 class sage__libs__singular(JoinFeature):
diff --git a/src/sage/features/sphinx.py b/src/sage/features/sphinx.py
index c83370cf28a..a70e8a11eee 100644
--- a/src/sage/features/sphinx.py
+++ b/src/sage/features/sphinx.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ def __init__(self):
             sage: isinstance(Sphinx(), Sphinx)
             True
         """
-        PythonModule.__init__(self, 'sphinx', spkg='sphinx')
+        PythonModule.__init__(self, 'sphinx', spkg='sphinx', type='standard')
 
 
 def all_features():
diff --git a/src/sage/features/standard.py b/src/sage/features/standard.py
index 54d1f804cef..c2090fc53a4 100644
--- a/src/sage/features/standard.py
+++ b/src/sage/features/standard.py
@@ -18,19 +18,19 @@
 
 
 def all_features():
-    return [PythonModule('cvxopt', spkg='cvxopt'),
-            PythonModule('fpylll', spkg='fpylll'),
-            JoinFeature('ipython', (PythonModule('IPython'),), spkg='ipython'),
-            JoinFeature('lrcalc_python', (PythonModule('lrcalc'),), spkg='lrcalc_python'),
-            PythonModule('mpmath', spkg='mpmath'),
-            PythonModule('networkx', spkg='networkx'),
-            PythonModule('numpy', spkg='numpy'),
-            PythonModule('pexpect', spkg='pexpect'),
-            JoinFeature('pillow', (PythonModule('PIL'),), spkg='pillow'),
-            JoinFeature('pplpy', (PythonModule('ppl'),), spkg='pplpy'),
-            PythonModule('primecountpy', spkg='primecountpy'),
-            PythonModule('ptyprocess', spkg='ptyprocess'),
-            PythonModule('pyparsing', spkg='pyparsing'),
-            PythonModule('requests', spkg='requests'),
-            PythonModule('scipy', spkg='scipy'),
-            PythonModule('sympy', spkg='sympy')]
+    return [PythonModule('cvxopt', spkg='cvxopt', type='standard'),
+            PythonModule('fpylll', spkg='fpylll', type='standard'),
+            JoinFeature('ipython', (PythonModule('IPython'),), spkg='ipython', type='standard'),
+            JoinFeature('lrcalc_python', (PythonModule('lrcalc'),), spkg='lrcalc_python', type='standard'),
+            PythonModule('mpmath', spkg='mpmath', type='standard'),
+            PythonModule('networkx', spkg='networkx', type='standard'),
+            PythonModule('numpy', spkg='numpy', type='standard'),
+            PythonModule('pexpect', spkg='pexpect', type='standard'),
+            JoinFeature('pillow', (PythonModule('PIL'),), spkg='pillow', type='standard'),
+            JoinFeature('pplpy', (PythonModule('ppl'),), spkg='pplpy', type='standard'),
+            PythonModule('primecountpy', spkg='primecountpy', type='standard'),
+            PythonModule('ptyprocess', spkg='ptyprocess', type='standard'),
+            PythonModule('pyparsing', spkg='pyparsing', type='standard'),
+            PythonModule('requests', spkg='requests', type='standard'),
+            PythonModule('scipy', spkg='scipy', type='standard'),
+            PythonModule('sympy', spkg='sympy', type='standard')]
diff --git a/src/sage/geometry/cone.py b/src/sage/geometry/cone.py
index 80c7dc63613..d37a444a564 100644
--- a/src/sage/geometry/cone.py
+++ b/src/sage/geometry/cone.py
@@ -237,9 +237,9 @@
 from sage.features import PythonModule
 lazy_import('ppl', ['C_Polyhedron', 'Generator_System', 'Constraint_System',
                     'Linear_Expression', 'Poly_Con_Relation'],
-                    feature=PythonModule("ppl", spkg="pplpy"))
+                    feature=PythonModule("ppl", spkg="pplpy", type="standard"))
 lazy_import('ppl', ['ray', 'point'], as_=['PPL_ray', 'PPL_point'],
-                    feature=PythonModule("ppl", spkg="pplpy"))
+                    feature=PythonModule("ppl", spkg="pplpy", type="standard"))
 
 
 def is_Cone(x):
diff --git a/src/sage/geometry/lattice_polytope.py b/src/sage/geometry/lattice_polytope.py
index f7e4e69db63..921b0004dfe 100644
--- a/src/sage/geometry/lattice_polytope.py
+++ b/src/sage/geometry/lattice_polytope.py
@@ -119,9 +119,9 @@
 from sage.features import PythonModule
 from sage.features.palp import PalpExecutable
 lazy_import('ppl', ['C_Polyhedron', 'Generator_System', 'Linear_Expression'],
-                    feature=PythonModule("ppl", spkg="pplpy"))
+                    feature=PythonModule("ppl", spkg="pplpy", type="standard"))
 lazy_import('ppl', 'point', as_='PPL_point',
-                    feature=PythonModule("ppl", spkg="pplpy"))
+                    feature=PythonModule("ppl", spkg="pplpy", type="standard"))
 
 from sage.matrix.constructor import matrix
 from sage.structure.element import is_Matrix
diff --git a/src/sage/geometry/polyhedron/backend_ppl.py b/src/sage/geometry/polyhedron/backend_ppl.py
index 791d1a4417b..a4012616deb 100644
--- a/src/sage/geometry/polyhedron/backend_ppl.py
+++ b/src/sage/geometry/polyhedron/backend_ppl.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 from sage.features import PythonModule
 lazy_import('ppl', ['C_Polyhedron', 'Generator_System', 'Constraint_System',
                     'Linear_Expression', 'line', 'ray', 'point'],
-                    feature=PythonModule("ppl", spkg="pplpy"))
+                    feature=PythonModule("ppl", spkg="pplpy", type="standard"))
 
 
 #########################################################################
diff --git a/src/sage/groups/braid.py b/src/sage/groups/braid.py
index 67f1f8e4dd9..f4ad632b332 100644
--- a/src/sage/groups/braid.py
+++ b/src/sage/groups/braid.py
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@
             ['leftnormalform', 'rightnormalform', 'centralizer', 'supersummitset', 'greatestcommondivisor',
              'leastcommonmultiple', 'conjugatingbraid', 'ultrasummitset',
              'thurston_type', 'rigidity', 'sliding_circuits'],
-            feature=PythonModule('sage.libs.braiding', spkg='libbraiding'))
+            feature=PythonModule('sage.libs.braiding', spkg='libbraiding', type='standard'))
 
 
 class Braid(FiniteTypeArtinGroupElement):
diff --git a/src/sage/misc/lazy_import.pyx b/src/sage/misc/lazy_import.pyx
index ada787afa22..3ab404ffd02 100644
--- a/src/sage/misc/lazy_import.pyx
+++ b/src/sage/misc/lazy_import.pyx
@@ -257,15 +257,20 @@ cdef class LazyImport():
             if finish_startup_called:
                 warn(f"Option ``at_startup=True`` for lazy import {self._name} not needed anymore")
 
+        feature = self._feature
         try:
             self._object = getattr(__import__(self._module, {}, {}, [self._name]), self._name)
         except ImportError as e:
-            if self._feature:
+            if feature:
                 # Avoid warnings from static type checkers by explicitly importing FeatureNotPresentError.
                 from sage.features import FeatureNotPresentError
-                raise FeatureNotPresentError(self._feature, reason=f'Importing {self._name} failed: {e}')
+                raise FeatureNotPresentError(feature, reason=f'Importing {self._name} failed: {e}')
             raise
 
+        if feature:
+            # for the case that the feature is hidden
+            feature.require()
+
         if self._deprecation is not None:
             from sage.misc.superseded import deprecation_cython as deprecation
             try:
@@ -1084,7 +1089,7 @@ def lazy_import(module, names, as_=None, *,
     An example of an import relying on a feature::
 
         sage: from sage.features import PythonModule
-        sage: lazy_import('ppl', 'equation', feature=PythonModule('ppl', spkg='pplpy'))
+        sage: lazy_import('ppl', 'equation', feature=PythonModule('ppl', spkg='pplpy', type='standard'))
         sage: equation
         <built-in function equation>
         sage: lazy_import('PyNormaliz', 'NmzListConeProperties', feature=PythonModule('PyNormaliz', spkg='pynormaliz'))  # optional - pynormaliz
diff --git a/src/sage/misc/package.py b/src/sage/misc/package.py
index d0b5808e215..110f6b36d7b 100644
--- a/src/sage/misc/package.py
+++ b/src/sage/misc/package.py
@@ -125,6 +125,42 @@ def pip_remote_version(pkg, pypi_url=DEFAULT_PYPI, ignore_URLError=False):
     return max(stable_releases)
 
 
+def spkg_type(name):
+    r"""
+    Return the type of the Sage package with the given name.
+
+    INPUT:
+
+    - ``name`` -- string giving the subdirectory name of the package under
+      ``SAGE_PKGS``
+
+    EXAMPLES::
+
+        sage: from sage.misc.package import spkg_type
+        sage: spkg_type('pip')                                  # optional - sage_spkg
+        'standard'
+
+    OUTPUT:
+
+    The type as a string in ``('base', 'standard', 'optional', 'experimental')``.
+    If no ``SPKG`` exists with the given name (or the directory ``SAGE_PKGS`` is
+    not avaialble), ``None`` is returned.
+    """
+    spkg_type = None
+    from sage.env import SAGE_PKGS
+    if not SAGE_PKGS:
+        return None
+    try:
+        f = open(os.path.join(SAGE_PKGS, name, "type"))
+    except IOError:
+        # Probably an empty directory => ignore
+        return None
+
+    with f:
+        spkg_type = f.read().strip()
+    return spkg_type
+
+
 def pip_installed_packages(normalization=None):
     r"""
     Return a dictionary `name->version` of installed pip packages.
@@ -310,15 +346,10 @@ def list_packages(*pkg_types: str, pkg_sources: List[str] = ['normal', 'pip', 's
 
     for p in lp:
 
-        try:
-            f = open(os.path.join(SAGE_PKGS, p, "type"))
-        except IOError:
-            # Probably an empty directory => ignore
+        typ = spkg_type(p)
+        if not typ:
             continue
 
-        with f:
-            typ = f.read().strip()
-
         if os.path.isfile(os.path.join(SAGE_PKGS, p, "requirements.txt")):
             src = 'pip'
         elif os.path.isfile(os.path.join(SAGE_PKGS, p, "checksums.ini")):