diff --git a/designate/central/service.py b/designate/central/service.py
index 2652ec89d..2c0a8403b 100644
--- a/designate/central/service.py
+++ b/designate/central/service.py
@@ -33,9 +33,9 @@ from dns import exception as dnsexception
 from oslo_config import cfg
 import oslo_messaging as messaging
 from oslo_log import log as logging
-from oslo_concurrency import lockutils
 
 from designate import context as dcontext
+from designate import coordination
 from designate import exceptions
 from designate import dnsutils
 from designate import network_api
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ def synchronized_zone(zone_arg=1, new_zone=False):
             if zone_id in ZONE_LOCKS.held:
                 return f(self, *args, **kwargs)
 
-            with lockutils.lock(lock_name):
+            with self.coordination.get_lock(lock_name):
                 try:
                     ZONE_LOCKS.held.add(zone_id)
                     return f(self, *args, **kwargs)
@@ -198,6 +198,10 @@ class Service(service.RPCService):
             threads=cfg.CONF['service:central'].threads,
         )
 
+        self.coordination = coordination.Coordination(
+            self.service_name, self.tg
+        )
+
         self.network_api = network_api.get_network_api(cfg.CONF.network_api)
 
     @property
@@ -233,8 +237,10 @@ class Service(service.RPCService):
                         "configured")
 
         super(Service, self).start()
+        self.coordination.start()
 
     def stop(self, graceful=True):
+        self.coordination.stop()
         super(Service, self).stop(graceful)
 
     @property
diff --git a/designate/coordination.py b/designate/coordination.py
index f39cc3227..f132078d5 100644
--- a/designate/coordination.py
+++ b/designate/coordination.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 import math
 import time
 
+from oslo_concurrency import lockutils
 from oslo_log import log
 import tenacity
 import tooz.coordination
@@ -51,6 +52,14 @@ class Coordination(object):
     def started(self):
         return self._started
 
+    def get_lock(self, name):
+        if self._coordinator:
+            # NOTE(eandersson): Workaround until tooz handles the conversion.
+            if not isinstance(name, bytes):
+                name = name.encode('ascii')
+            return self._coordinator.get_lock(name)
+        return lockutils.lock(name)
+
     def start(self):
         self.coordination_id = ":".join([CONF.host, generate_uuid()])
 
diff --git a/designate/tests/test_central/test_decorator.py b/designate/tests/test_central/test_decorator.py
index fd78861d7..ff189caf4 100644
--- a/designate/tests/test_central/test_decorator.py
+++ b/designate/tests/test_central/test_decorator.py
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@
 # WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
 # License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
 # under the License.
+import mock
+from oslo_concurrency import lockutils
 from oslo_log import log as logging
 
 from designate import exceptions
@@ -21,6 +23,11 @@ from designate.tests.test_central import CentralTestCase
 LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
+class FakeCoordination(object):
+    def get_lock(self, name):
+        return lockutils.lock(name)
+
+
 class CentralDecoratorTests(CentralTestCase):
     def test_synchronized_zone_exception_raised(self):
         @service.synchronized_zone()
@@ -31,7 +38,8 @@ class CentralDecoratorTests(CentralTestCase):
 
         for index in range(9):
             try:
-                mock_get_zone(object, index,
+                mock_get_zone(mock.Mock(coordination=FakeCoordination()),
+                              index,
                               zone.Zone(id=utils.generate_uuid()))
             except exceptions.ZoneNotFound:
                 pass
@@ -46,9 +54,11 @@ class CentralDecoratorTests(CentralTestCase):
         def mock_get_zone(cls, context, zone):
             self.assertEqual(service.ZONE_LOCKS.held, {zone.id})
 
-        mock_create_record(object, self.get_context(),
+        mock_create_record(mock.Mock(coordination=FakeCoordination()),
+                           self.get_context(),
                            record=record.Record(zone_id=utils.generate_uuid()))
-        mock_get_zone(object, self.get_context(),
+        mock_get_zone(mock.Mock(coordination=FakeCoordination()),
+                      self.get_context(),
                       zone=zone.Zone(id=utils.generate_uuid()))
 
     def test_synchronized_zone_raises_exception_when_no_zone_provided(self):
diff --git a/devstack/plugin.sh b/devstack/plugin.sh
index 4640753f6..686767448 100755
--- a/devstack/plugin.sh
+++ b/devstack/plugin.sh
@@ -228,6 +228,11 @@ function install_designate {
     git_clone $DESIGNATE_REPO $DESIGNATE_DIR $DESIGNATE_BRANCH
     setup_develop $DESIGNATE_DIR
 
+    # Install reqs for tooz driver
+    if [[ "$DESIGNATE_COORDINATION_URL" =~ "memcached" ]]; then
+        pip_install_gr "pymemcache"
+    fi
+
     install_designate_backend
 }