diff --git a/masakarimonitors/conf/service.py b/masakarimonitors/conf/service.py
index 4c3eb19..e234bdd 100644
--- a/masakarimonitors/conf/service.py
+++ b/masakarimonitors/conf/service.py
@@ -17,8 +17,9 @@ import socket
 from oslo_config import cfg
 
 service_opts = [
-    cfg.StrOpt('host',
+    cfg.StrOpt('hostname',
                default=socket.gethostname(),
+               deprecated_name="host",
                help='''
 Hostname, FQDN or IP address of this host. Must be valid within AMQP key.
 
diff --git a/masakarimonitors/manager.py b/masakarimonitors/manager.py
index f05458e..0f4da72 100644
--- a/masakarimonitors/manager.py
+++ b/masakarimonitors/manager.py
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ class Manager(PeriodicTasks):
 
     def __init__(self, host=None, service_name='undefined'):
         if not host:
-            host = CONF.host
+            host = CONF.hostname
         self.host = host
         self.service_name = service_name
         super(Manager, self).__init__()
diff --git a/masakarimonitors/service.py b/masakarimonitors/service.py
index e6ef132..df588a3 100644
--- a/masakarimonitors/service.py
+++ b/masakarimonitors/service.py
@@ -69,13 +69,13 @@ class Service(service.Service):
     def create(cls, host=None, binary=None, manager=None):
         """Instantiates class and passes back application object.
 
-        :param host: defaults to CONF.host
+        :param host: defaults to CONF.hostname
         :param binary: defaults to basename of executable
         :param manager: defaults to CONF.<Latter part of binary>_manager
 
         """
         if not host:
-            host = CONF.host
+            host = CONF.hostname
         if not binary:
             binary = os.path.basename(sys.argv[0])
 
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/bug-1866660-ef8624f5283b2e5e.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/bug-1866660-ef8624f5283b2e5e.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a5f3128
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/bug-1866660-ef8624f5283b2e5e.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+---
+features:
+  - |
+    A 'hostname' option has been added to the Masakari monitors configuration
+    file which replaces the 'host' option. The option should be used to specify
+    the Hostname, FQDN or IP address of the host.
+deprecations:
+  - |
+    The 'host' option in the 'DEFAULT' section has been deprecated as it
+    clashes with the name of a section in the same file. It has been replaced
+    by the 'hostname' option.