diff --git a/marconi/common/config.py b/marconi/common/config.py
index 9d92d659d..5b9bda1e1 100644
--- a/marconi/common/config.py
+++ b/marconi/common/config.py
@@ -100,46 +100,42 @@ def _init():
             for k, v in opts.items():
                 conf.register_cli_opt(_make_opt(k, v))
 
-            @staticmethod
-            def set_cli(args):
-                """
-                Save the CLI arguments.
-
-                :param args: a list of CLI arguments in strings
-                """
-
-                my.args = []
-                my.args.extend(args)
-
-            @staticmethod
-            def load(config_file=None):
-                """Load the configurations from a config file.
-
-                If the file name is not supplied, look for
-
-                    /etc/%project/%project.conf
-
-                    and
-
-                    ~/.%project/%project.conf
-
-                :param config_file: the name of an alternative config file
-                """
-
-                if config_file is None:
-                    conf(args=my.args, project=name, prog=name)
-                else:
-                    conf(args=my.args, default_config_files=[config_file])
-
             def from_class(cls):
                 grant_access_to_class(conf, cls)
-                cls.set_cli = set_cli
-                cls.load = load
                 return cls
 
             return from_class(opaque_type_of(ConfigProxy, name))()
 
-        return Obj(from_options=from_options)
+        def set_cli(args):
+            """
+            Save the CLI arguments.
+
+            :param args: a list of CLI arguments in strings
+            """
+
+            my.args = []
+            my.args.extend(args)
+
+        def load(config_file=None):
+            """Load the configurations from a config file.
+
+            If the file name is not supplied, look for
+
+                /etc/%project/%project.conf
+
+                and
+
+                ~/.%project/%project.conf
+
+            :param config_file: the name of an alternative config file
+            """
+
+            if config_file is None:
+                conf(args=my.args, project=name, prog=name)
+            else:
+                conf(args=my.args, default_config_files=[config_file])
+
+        return Obj(from_options=from_options, set_cli=set_cli, load=load)
 
     def opaque_type_of(base, postfix):
         return type('%s of %s' % (base.__name__, postfix), (base,), {})
diff --git a/marconi/kernel.py b/marconi/kernel.py
index cdfaf2d64..b9d1ced3e 100644
--- a/marconi/kernel.py
+++ b/marconi/kernel.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ from marconi.storage import reference as storage
 from marconi.transport.wsgi import driver as wsgi
 
 
-cfg = config.project('marconi').from_options()
+cfg_handle = config.project('marconi')
 
 
 class Kernel(object):
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ class Kernel(object):
 
     def __init__(self, config_file=None):
         #TODO(kgriffs): Error handling
-        cfg.load(config_file)
+        cfg_handle.load(config_file)
 
         #TODO(kgriffs): Determine driver types from cfg
         self.storage = storage.Driver()
diff --git a/marconi/tests/test_config.py b/marconi/tests/test_config.py
index 2b70e6540..5fc4e797a 100644
--- a/marconi/tests/test_config.py
+++ b/marconi/tests/test_config.py
@@ -19,7 +19,8 @@ from marconi.common import config
 from marconi.tests.util import suite
 
 
-cfg = config.project().from_options(
+cfg_handle = config.project()
+cfg = cfg_handle.from_options(
         without_help=3,
         with_help=(None, "nonsense"))
 
@@ -28,11 +29,11 @@ class TestConfig(suite.TestSuite):
 
     def test_cli(self):
         args = ['--with_help', 'sense']
-        cfg.set_cli(args)
-        cfg.load(self.conf_path('wsgi_reference.conf'))
+        cfg_handle.set_cli(args)
+        cfg_handle.load(self.conf_path('wsgi_reference.conf'))
         self.assertEquals(cfg.with_help, 'sense')
-        cfg.set_cli([])
-        cfg.load()
+        cfg_handle.set_cli([])
+        cfg_handle.load()
         self.assertEquals(cfg.with_help, None)
 
     def test_wrong_type(self):