diff --git a/designate/backend/base.py b/designate/backend/base.py
index 1ac30d8b7..b19878210 100644
--- a/designate/backend/base.py
+++ b/designate/backend/base.py
@@ -39,8 +39,6 @@ class Backend(DriverPlugin):
         self.target = target
         self.options = target.options
         self.masters = target.masters
-        self.host = self.options.get('host', '127.0.0.1')
-        self.port = int(self.options.get('port', 53))
 
         # TODO(kiall): Context's should never be shared across requests.
         self.admin_context = DesignateContext.get_admin_context()
diff --git a/designate/backend/impl_akamai_v2.py b/designate/backend/impl_akamai_v2.py
index 5fb48f8c6..71708fa4b 100644
--- a/designate/backend/impl_akamai_v2.py
+++ b/designate/backend/impl_akamai_v2.py
@@ -170,8 +170,6 @@ class AkamaiBackend(base.Backend):
     def __init__(self, target):
         super().__init__(target)
 
-        self._host = self.options.get('host', '127.0.0.1')
-        self._port = int(self.options.get('port', 53))
         self.client = self.init_client()
 
     def init_client(self):
diff --git a/designate/backend/impl_bind9.py b/designate/backend/impl_bind9.py
index b0237b2d3..37d4afa44 100644
--- a/designate/backend/impl_bind9.py
+++ b/designate/backend/impl_bind9.py
@@ -42,8 +42,6 @@ class Bind9Backend(base.Backend):
     def __init__(self, target):
         super().__init__(target)
 
-        self._host = self.options.get('host', '127.0.0.1')
-        self._port = int(self.options.get('port', 53))
         self._view = self.options.get('view')
 
         # Removes zone files when a zone is deleted.
diff --git a/designate/worker/tasks/zone.py b/designate/worker/tasks/zone.py
index eda8f9137..44370b0ff 100644
--- a/designate/worker/tasks/zone.py
+++ b/designate/worker/tasks/zone.py
@@ -147,8 +147,8 @@ class SendNotify(base.Task):
         self.target = target
 
     def __call__(self):
-        host = self.target.options.get('host')
-        port = int(self.target.options.get('port'))
+        host = self.target.options.get('host', '127.0.0.1')
+        port = int(self.target.options.get('port', '53'))
 
         try:
             dnsutils.notify(self.zone.name, host, port=port)