diff --git a/cassandra/cluster.py b/cassandra/cluster.py
index d3989d7a..bc5f0814 100644
--- a/cassandra/cluster.py
+++ b/cassandra/cluster.py
@@ -530,6 +530,7 @@ class Cluster(object):
                 raise Exception("Cluster is already shut down")
 
             if not self._is_setup:
+                self.connection_class.initialize_reactor()
                 atexit.register(partial(_shutdown_cluster, self))
                 for address in self.contact_points:
                     host = self.add_host(address, signal=False)
diff --git a/cassandra/connection.py b/cassandra/connection.py
index a06adc2e..11a17f29 100644
--- a/cassandra/connection.py
+++ b/cassandra/connection.py
@@ -179,6 +179,14 @@ class Connection(object):
 
         self.lock = RLock()
 
+    @classmethod
+    def initialize_reactor(self):
+        """
+        Called once by Cluster.connect().  This should be used by implementations
+        to set up any resources that will be shared across connections.
+        """
+        pass
+
     def close(self):
         raise NotImplementedError()
 
diff --git a/cassandra/io/asyncorereactor.py b/cassandra/io/asyncorereactor.py
index 9b7240dc..8c021a88 100644
--- a/cassandra/io/asyncorereactor.py
+++ b/cassandra/io/asyncorereactor.py
@@ -135,12 +135,17 @@ class AsyncoreConnection(Connection, asyncore.dispatcher):
     module in the Python standard library for its event loop.
     """
 
-    _loop = AsyncoreLoop()
+    _loop = None
 
     _total_reqd_bytes = 0
     _writable = False
     _readable = False
 
+    @classmethod
+    def initialize_reactor(cls):
+        if not cls._loop:
+            cls._loop = AsyncoreLoop()
+
     @classmethod
     def factory(cls, *args, **kwargs):
         timeout = kwargs.pop('timeout', 5.0)
diff --git a/cassandra/io/libevreactor.py b/cassandra/io/libevreactor.py
index 5173fc80..b1ed25b1 100644
--- a/cassandra/io/libevreactor.py
+++ b/cassandra/io/libevreactor.py
@@ -200,14 +200,18 @@ class LibevConnection(Connection):
     """
     An implementation of :class:`.Connection` that uses libev for its event loop.
     """
-    _libevloop = LibevLoop()
-
+    _libevloop = None
     _write_watcher_is_active = False
     _total_reqd_bytes = 0
     _read_watcher = None
     _write_watcher = None
     _socket = None
 
+    @classmethod
+    def initialize_reactor(cls):
+        if not cls._libevloop:
+            cls._libevloop = LibevLoop()
+
     @classmethod
     def factory(cls, *args, **kwargs):
         timeout = kwargs.pop('timeout', 5.0)
diff --git a/tests/integration/standard/test_connection.py b/tests/integration/standard/test_connection.py
index 79b0fde1..4d4fb8f3 100644
--- a/tests/integration/standard/test_connection.py
+++ b/tests/integration/standard/test_connection.py
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@ class ConnectionTest(object):
 
     klass = None
 
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.klass.initialize_reactor()
+
     def get_connection(self):
         """
         Helper method to solve automated testing issues within Jenkins.
@@ -216,6 +219,7 @@ class AsyncoreConnectionTest(ConnectionTest, unittest.TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
         if 'gevent.monkey' in sys.modules:
             raise unittest.SkipTest("Can't test libev with gevent monkey patching")
+        ConnectionTest.setUp(self)
 
 
 class LibevConnectionTest(ConnectionTest, unittest.TestCase):
@@ -228,3 +232,4 @@ class LibevConnectionTest(ConnectionTest, unittest.TestCase):
         if LibevConnection is None:
             raise unittest.SkipTest(
                 'libev does not appear to be installed properly')
+        ConnectionTest.setUp(self)
diff --git a/tests/unit/io/test_asyncorereactor.py b/tests/unit/io/test_asyncorereactor.py
index 179fe637..bab800fa 100644
--- a/tests/unit/io/test_asyncorereactor.py
+++ b/tests/unit/io/test_asyncorereactor.py
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ class AsyncoreConnectionTest(unittest.TestCase):
 
     @classmethod
     def setUpClass(cls):
+        AsyncoreConnection.initialize_reactor()
         cls.socket_patcher = patch('socket.socket', spec=socket.socket)
         cls.mock_socket = cls.socket_patcher.start()
         cls.mock_socket().connect_ex.return_value = 0
diff --git a/tests/unit/io/test_libevreactor.py b/tests/unit/io/test_libevreactor.py
index ce3858df..3b677ab5 100644
--- a/tests/unit/io/test_libevreactor.py
+++ b/tests/unit/io/test_libevreactor.py
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ class LibevConnectionTest(unittest.TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
         if LibevConnection is None:
             raise unittest.SkipTest('libev does not appear to be installed correctly')
+        LibevConnection.initialize_reactor()
 
     def make_connection(self):
         c = LibevConnection('1.2.3.4', cql_version='3.0.1')