diff --git a/horizon/base.py b/horizon/base.py
index 0ae4b6fb50..a13375549f 100644
--- a/horizon/base.py
+++ b/horizon/base.py
@@ -39,26 +39,13 @@ from django.utils.module_loading import module_has_submodule
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext as _
 
 from horizon import loaders
+from horizon import conf
 from horizon.decorators import require_auth, require_perms, _current_component
 
 
 LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-# Default configuration dictionary. Do not mutate directly. Use copy.copy().
-HORIZON_CONFIG = {
-    # Allow for ordering dashboards; list or tuple if provided.
-    'dashboards': None,
-    # Name of a default dashboard; defaults to first alphabetically if None
-    'default_dashboard': None,
-    # Default redirect url for users' home
-    'user_home': settings.LOGIN_REDIRECT_URL,
-    'exceptions': {'unauthorized': [],
-                   'not_found': [],
-                   'recoverable': []}
-}
-
-
 def _decorate_urlconf(urlpatterns, decorator, *args, **kwargs):
     for pattern in urlpatterns:
         if getattr(pattern, 'callback', None):
@@ -591,9 +578,7 @@ class Site(Registry, HorizonComponent):
 
     @property
     def _conf(self):
-        conf = copy.copy(HORIZON_CONFIG)
-        conf.update(getattr(settings, 'HORIZON_CONFIG', {}))
-        return conf
+        return conf.HORIZON_CONFIG
 
     @property
     def dashboards(self):
@@ -633,11 +618,11 @@ class Site(Registry, HorizonComponent):
         """ Returns an ordered tuple of :class:`~horizon.Dashboard` modules.
 
         Orders dashboards according to the ``"dashboards"`` key in
-        ``settings.HORIZON_CONFIG`` or else returns all registered dashboards
+        ``HORIZON_CONFIG`` or else returns all registered dashboards
         in alphabetical order.
 
         Any remaining :class:`~horizon.Dashboard` classes registered with
-        Horizon but not listed in ``settings.HORIZON_CONFIG['dashboards']``
+        Horizon but not listed in ``HORIZON_CONFIG['dashboards']``
         will be appended to the end of the list alphabetically.
         """
         if self.dashboards:
@@ -660,7 +645,7 @@ class Site(Registry, HorizonComponent):
     def get_default_dashboard(self):
         """ Returns the default :class:`~horizon.Dashboard` instance.
 
-        If ``"default_dashboard"`` is specified in ``settings.HORIZON_CONFIG``
+        If ``"default_dashboard"`` is specified in ``HORIZON_CONFIG``
         then that dashboard will be returned. If not, the first dashboard
         returned by :func:`~horizon.get_dashboards` will be returned.
         """
@@ -680,7 +665,7 @@ class Site(Registry, HorizonComponent):
 
         An alternative function can be supplied to customize this behavior
         by specifying a either a URL or a function which returns a URL via
-        the ``"user_home"`` key in ``settings.HORIZON_CONFIG``. Each of these
+        the ``"user_home"`` key in ``HORIZON_CONFIG``. Each of these
         would be valid::
 
             {"user_home": "/home",}  # A URL
@@ -741,9 +726,8 @@ class Site(Registry, HorizonComponent):
             dash._autodiscover()
 
         # Allow for override modules
-        config = getattr(settings, "HORIZON_CONFIG", {})
-        if config.get("customization_module", None):
-            customization_module = config["customization_module"]
+        if self._conf.get("customization_module", None):
+            customization_module = self._conf["customization_module"]
             bits = customization_module.split('.')
             mod_name = bits.pop()
             package = '.'.join(bits)
diff --git a/horizon/conf/__init__.py b/horizon/conf/__init__.py
index e69de29bb2..ad5d51dad6 100644
--- a/horizon/conf/__init__.py
+++ b/horizon/conf/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+import copy
+
+from django.utils.functional import LazyObject, empty
+
+from .default import HORIZON_CONFIG as DEFAULT_CONFIG
+
+
+class LazySettings(LazyObject):
+    def _setup(self, name=None):
+        from django.conf import settings
+        HORIZON_CONFIG = copy.copy(DEFAULT_CONFIG)
+        HORIZON_CONFIG.update(settings.HORIZON_CONFIG)
+
+        # Ensure we always have our exception configuration...
+        for exc_category in ['unauthorized', 'not_found', 'recoverable']:
+            if exc_category not in HORIZON_CONFIG['exceptions']:
+                default_exc_config = DEFAULT_CONFIG['exceptions'][exc_category]
+                HORIZON_CONFIG['exceptions'][exc_category] = default_exc_config
+
+        # Ensure our password validator always exists...
+        if 'regex' not in HORIZON_CONFIG['password_validator']:
+            default_pw_regex = DEFAULT_CONFIG['password_validator']['regex']
+            HORIZON_CONFIG['password_validator']['regex'] = default_pw_regex
+        if 'help_text' not in HORIZON_CONFIG['password_validator']:
+            default_pw_help = DEFAULT_CONFIG['password_validator']['help_text']
+            HORIZON_CONFIG['password_validator']['help_text'] = default_pw_help
+
+        self._wrapped = HORIZON_CONFIG
+
+    def __getitem__(self, name, fallback=None):
+        if self._wrapped is empty:
+            self._setup(name)
+        return self._wrapped.get(name, fallback)
+
+HORIZON_CONFIG = LazySettings()
diff --git a/horizon/conf/default.py b/horizon/conf/default.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..869086f4c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/horizon/conf/default.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+from django.conf import settings
+from django.utils.translation import ugettext as _
+
+# Default configuration dictionary. Do not mutate.
+HORIZON_CONFIG = {
+    # Allow for ordering dashboards; list or tuple if provided.
+    'dashboards': None,
+
+    # Name of a default dashboard; defaults to first alphabetically if None
+    'default_dashboard': None,
+
+    # Default redirect url for users' home
+    'user_home': settings.LOGIN_REDIRECT_URL,
+
+    # AJAX settings for JavaScript
+    'ajax_queue_limit': 10,
+    'ajax_poll_interval': 2500,
+
+    # URL for additional help with this site.
+    'help_url': None,
+
+    # Exception configuration.
+    'exceptions': {'unauthorized': [],
+                   'not_found': [],
+                   'recoverable': []},
+
+    # Password configuration.
+    'password_validator': {'regex': '.*',
+                           'help_text': _("Password is not accepted")}
+}
diff --git a/horizon/context_processors.py b/horizon/context_processors.py
index 8e65db2f09..f5d2ecfdc6 100644
--- a/horizon/context_processors.py
+++ b/horizon/context_processors.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 Context processors used by Horizon.
 """
 
-from django.conf import settings
+from horizon import conf
 
 
 def horizon(request):
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ def horizon(request):
         for each template/template fragment which takes context that is used
         to render the complete output.
     """
-    context = {"HORIZON_CONFIG": getattr(settings, "HORIZON_CONFIG", {}),
+    context = {"HORIZON_CONFIG": conf.HORIZON_CONFIG,
                "True": True,
                "False": False}
 
diff --git a/horizon/exceptions.py b/horizon/exceptions.py
index 91c1118ff3..313f0c5ac9 100644
--- a/horizon/exceptions.py
+++ b/horizon/exceptions.py
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ import logging
 import os
 import sys
 
-from django.conf import settings
 from django.contrib.auth import logout
 from django.http import HttpRequest
 from django.utils import termcolors
@@ -30,6 +29,7 @@ from django.utils.translation import ugettext as _
 from django.views.debug import SafeExceptionReporterFilter, CLEANSED_SUBSTITUTE
 
 from horizon import messages
+from horizon.conf import HORIZON_CONFIG
 
 LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 PALETTE = termcolors.PALETTES[termcolors.DEFAULT_PALETTE]
@@ -194,12 +194,10 @@ class HandledException(HorizonException):
         self.wrapped = wrapped
 
 
-HORIZON_CONFIG = getattr(settings, "HORIZON_CONFIG", {})
-EXCEPTION_CONFIG = HORIZON_CONFIG.get("exceptions", {})
-UNAUTHORIZED = tuple(EXCEPTION_CONFIG.get('unauthorized', []))
-NOT_FOUND = tuple(EXCEPTION_CONFIG.get('not_found', []))
+UNAUTHORIZED = tuple(HORIZON_CONFIG['exceptions']['unauthorized'])
+NOT_FOUND = tuple(HORIZON_CONFIG['exceptions']['not_found'])
 RECOVERABLE = (AlreadyExists,)
-RECOVERABLE += tuple(EXCEPTION_CONFIG.get('recoverable', []))
+RECOVERABLE += tuple(HORIZON_CONFIG['exceptions']['recoverable'])
 
 
 def error_color(msg):
diff --git a/horizon/static/horizon/js/horizon.communication.js b/horizon/static/horizon/js/horizon.communication.js
index 74baf780fa..f1116d1eeb 100644
--- a/horizon/static/horizon/js/horizon.communication.js
+++ b/horizon/static/horizon/js/horizon.communication.js
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
  *
  * Note: The number of concurrent AJAX connections hanlded in the queue
  * can be configured by setting an "ajax_queue_limit" key in
- * settings.HORIZON_CONFIG to the desired number (or None to disable queue
+ * HORIZON_CONFIG to the desired number (or None to disable queue
  * limiting).
  */
 horizon.ajax = {
diff --git a/horizon/tables/base.py b/horizon/tables/base.py
index 600d797c10..7c95c2d8d5 100644
--- a/horizon/tables/base.py
+++ b/horizon/tables/base.py
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 from django.utils.safestring import mark_safe
 from django.utils import termcolors
 
+from horizon import conf
 from horizon import exceptions
 from horizon import messages
 from horizon.utils import html
@@ -359,7 +360,7 @@ class Row(html.HTMLElement):
     lookup versus the table's "list" lookup).
 
     The automatic update interval is configurable by setting the key
-    ``ajax_poll_interval`` in the ``settings.HORIZON_CONFIG`` dictionary.
+    ``ajax_poll_interval`` in the ``HORIZON_CONFIG`` dictionary.
     Default: ``2500`` (measured in milliseconds).
 
     .. attribute:: table
@@ -452,7 +453,7 @@ class Row(html.HTMLElement):
         self.cells = SortedDict(cells)
 
         if self.ajax:
-            interval = settings.HORIZON_CONFIG.get('ajax_poll_interval', 2500)
+            interval = conf.HORIZON_CONFIG['ajax_poll_interval']
             self.attrs['data-update-interval'] = interval
             self.attrs['data-update-url'] = self.get_ajax_update_url()
             self.classes.append("ajax-update")
diff --git a/horizon/utils/validators.py b/horizon/utils/validators.py
index 8ea1350ce8..143375a323 100644
--- a/horizon/utils/validators.py
+++ b/horizon/utils/validators.py
@@ -14,12 +14,9 @@
 #    License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
 #    under the License.
 
-from django.conf import settings
 from django.core.exceptions import ValidationError
-from django.utils.translation import ugettext as _
 
-horizon_config = getattr(settings, "HORIZON_CONFIG", {})
-password_config = horizon_config.get("password_validator", {})
+from horizon import conf
 
 
 def validate_port_range(port):
@@ -28,8 +25,8 @@ def validate_port_range(port):
 
 
 def password_validator():
-    return password_config.get("regex", ".*")
+    return conf.HORIZON_CONFIG["password_validator"]["regex"]
 
 
 def password_validator_msg():
-    return password_config.get("help_text", _("Password is not accepted"))
+    return conf.HORIZON_CONFIG["password_validator"]["help_text"]
diff --git a/openstack_dashboard/api/nova.py b/openstack_dashboard/api/nova.py
index 68a0d2f21d..822645753a 100644
--- a/openstack_dashboard/api/nova.py
+++ b/openstack_dashboard/api/nova.py
@@ -183,7 +183,8 @@ def novaclient(request):
                            request.user.token.id,
                            project_id=request.user.tenant_id,
                            auth_url=url_for(request, 'compute'),
-                           insecure=insecure)
+                           insecure=insecure,
+                           http_log_debug=settings.DEBUG)
     c.client.auth_token = request.user.token.id
     c.client.management_url = url_for(request, 'compute')
     return c
diff --git a/openstack_dashboard/local/local_settings.py.example b/openstack_dashboard/local/local_settings.py.example
index d841e6a2b4..e9918cdc62 100644
--- a/openstack_dashboard/local/local_settings.py.example
+++ b/openstack_dashboard/local/local_settings.py.example
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ import os
 
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 
+from openstack_dashboard import exceptions
+
 DEBUG = True
 TEMPLATE_DEBUG = DEBUG
 
@@ -12,14 +14,23 @@ TEMPLATE_DEBUG = DEBUG
 # https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/1.4/ref/settings/#secure-proxy-ssl-header
 # SECURE_PROXY_SSL_HEADER = ('HTTP_X_FORWARDED_PROTOCOL', 'https')
 
+# Default OpenStack Dashboard configuration.
+HORIZON_CONFIG = {
+    'dashboards': ('project', 'admin', 'settings',),
+    'default_dashboard': 'project',
+    'user_home': 'openstack_dashboard.views.get_user_home',
+    'ajax_queue_limit': 10,
+    'help_url': "http://docs.openstack.org",
+    'exceptions': {'recoverable': exceptions.RECOVERABLE,
+                   'not_found': exceptions.NOT_FOUND,
+                   'unauthorized': exceptions.UNAUTHORIZED},
+}
+
 # Specify a regular expression to validate user passwords.
-# HORIZON_CONFIG = {
-#     "password_validator": {
-#         "regex": '.*',
-#         "help_text": _("Your password does not meet the requirements.")
-#     },
-#    'help_url': "http://docs.openstack.org"
-# }
+# HORIZON_CONFIG["password_validator"] = {
+#     "regex": '.*',
+#     "help_text": _("Your password does not meet the requirements.")
+# },
 
 LOCAL_PATH = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
 
diff --git a/openstack_dashboard/test/settings.py b/openstack_dashboard/test/settings.py
index d03d268886..ddbb38ca95 100644
--- a/openstack_dashboard/test/settings.py
+++ b/openstack_dashboard/test/settings.py
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ SECRET_KEY = generate_or_read_from_file(os.path.join(TEST_DIR,
 ROOT_URLCONF = 'openstack_dashboard.urls'
 TEMPLATE_DIRS = (
     os.path.join(TEST_DIR, 'templates'),
-    #os.path.join(ROOT_PATH, 'templates'),
 )
 
 TEMPLATE_CONTEXT_PROCESSORS += (
diff --git a/openstack_dashboard/test/test_data/exceptions.py b/openstack_dashboard/test/test_data/exceptions.py
index 9b9583eb51..9f58692033 100644
--- a/openstack_dashboard/test/test_data/exceptions.py
+++ b/openstack_dashboard/test/test_data/exceptions.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ from .utils import TestDataContainer
 def create_stubbed_exception(cls, status_code=500):
     msg = "Expected failure."
 
-    def fake_init_exception(self, code, message):
+    def fake_init_exception(self, code, message, **kwargs):
         self.code = code
         self.message = message