diff --git a/ceilometer/coordination.py b/ceilometer/coordination.py
index dc383db3..e4b98aa3 100644
--- a/ceilometer/coordination.py
+++ b/ceilometer/coordination.py
@@ -63,7 +63,6 @@ class PartitionCoordinator(object):
         self._coordinator = None
         self._groups = set()
         self._my_id = my_id or str(uuid.uuid4())
-        self._started = False
 
     def start(self):
         backend_url = cfg.CONF.coordination.backend_url
@@ -72,10 +71,8 @@ class PartitionCoordinator(object):
                 self._coordinator = tooz.coordination.get_coordinator(
                     backend_url, self._my_id)
                 self._coordinator.start()
-                self._started = True
                 LOG.info(_LI('Coordination backend started successfully.'))
             except tooz.coordination.ToozError:
-                self._started = False
                 LOG.exception(_LE('Error connecting to coordination backend.'))
 
     def stop(self):
@@ -91,14 +88,13 @@ class PartitionCoordinator(object):
             LOG.exception(_LE('Error connecting to coordination backend.'))
         finally:
             self._coordinator = None
-            self._started = False
 
     def is_active(self):
         return self._coordinator is not None
 
     def heartbeat(self):
         if self._coordinator:
-            if not self._started:
+            if not self._coordinator.is_started:
                 # re-connect
                 self.start()
             try:
@@ -117,7 +113,8 @@ class PartitionCoordinator(object):
             self._coordinator.run_watchers()
 
     def join_group(self, group_id):
-        if not self._coordinator or not self._started or not group_id:
+        if (not self._coordinator or not self._coordinator.is_started
+                or not group_id):
             return
         while True:
             try:
diff --git a/ceilometer/tests/unit/test_coordination.py b/ceilometer/tests/unit/test_coordination.py
index 06158d63..5171d67f 100644
--- a/ceilometer/tests/unit/test_coordination.py
+++ b/ceilometer/tests/unit/test_coordination.py
@@ -28,9 +28,10 @@ class MockToozCoordinator(object):
     def __init__(self, member_id, shared_storage):
         self._member_id = member_id
         self._groups = shared_storage
+        self.is_started = False
 
     def start(self):
-        pass
+        self.is_started = True
 
     def stop(self):
         pass
@@ -230,7 +231,7 @@ class TestPartitioning(base.BaseTestCase):
 
     def test_group_id_none(self):
         coord = self._get_new_started_coordinator({}, 'a')
-        self.assertTrue(coord._started)
+        self.assertTrue(coord._coordinator.is_started)
 
         with mock.patch.object(coord._coordinator, 'join_group') as mocked:
             coord.join_group(None)
@@ -241,9 +242,8 @@ class TestPartitioning(base.BaseTestCase):
 
     def test_stop(self):
         coord = self._get_new_started_coordinator({}, 'a')
-        self.assertTrue(coord._started)
+        self.assertTrue(coord._coordinator.is_started)
         coord.join_group("123")
         coord.stop()
         self.assertIsEmpty(coord._groups)
-        self.assertFalse(coord._started)
         self.assertIsNone(coord._coordinator)