diff --git a/devstack/lib/watcher b/devstack/lib/watcher
index 011fa12aa..098095f31 100644
--- a/devstack/lib/watcher
+++ b/devstack/lib/watcher
@@ -126,6 +126,8 @@ function create_watcher_conf {
     iniset $WATCHER_CONF oslo_messaging_rabbit rabbit_password $RABBIT_PASSWORD
     iniset $WATCHER_CONF oslo_messaging_rabbit rabbit_host $RABBIT_HOST
 
+    iniset $WATCHER_CONF oslo_messaging_notifications driver "messaging"
+
     iniset $NOVA_CONF oslo_messaging_notifications topics "notifications,watcher_notifications"
 
     configure_auth_token_middleware $WATCHER_CONF watcher $WATCHER_AUTH_CACHE_DIR