diff --git a/nova/manager.py b/nova/manager.py
index a6efb8732..5b61f7a4c 100644
--- a/nova/manager.py
+++ b/nova/manager.py
@@ -53,23 +53,19 @@ This module provides Manager, a base class for managers.
 
 from nova import utils
 from nova import flags
+from nova.db import base
 
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
 FLAGS = flags.FLAGS
-flags.DEFINE_string('db_driver', 'nova.db.api',
-                    'driver to use for volume creation')
 
 
-class Manager(object):
-    """DB driver is injected in the init method"""
+class Manager(base.Base):
     def __init__(self, host=None, db_driver=None):
         if not host:
             host = FLAGS.host
         self.host = host
-        if not db_driver:
-            db_driver = FLAGS.db_driver
-        self.db = utils.import_object(db_driver)  # pylint: disable-msg=C0103
+        super(Manager, self).__init__(db_driver)
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def periodic_tasks(self, context=None):
diff --git a/nova/tests/compute_unittest.py b/nova/tests/compute_unittest.py
index 71a1a4457..8f6f35b35 100644
--- a/nova/tests/compute_unittest.py
+++ b/nova/tests/compute_unittest.py
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ from nova import flags
 from nova import test
 from nova import utils
 from nova.auth import manager
+from nova.compute import api as compute_api
 
 FLAGS = flags.FLAGS
 
@@ -43,6 +44,7 @@ class ComputeTestCase(test.TrialTestCase):
         self.flags(connection_type='fake',
                    network_manager='nova.network.manager.FlatManager')
         self.compute = utils.import_object(FLAGS.compute_manager)
+        self.compute_api = compute_api.ComputeAPI()
         self.manager = manager.AuthManager()
         self.user = self.manager.create_user('fake', 'fake', 'fake')
         self.project = self.manager.create_project('fake', 'fake', 'fake')
@@ -76,9 +78,9 @@ class ComputeTestCase(test.TrialTestCase):
                   'user_id': self.user.id,
                   'project_id': self.project.id}
         group = db.security_group_create(self.context, values)
-        ref = self.compute.create_instance(self.context,
-                                           security_groups=[group['id']],
-                                           **inst)
+        ref = self.compute_api.create_instance(self.context,
+                                               security_groups=[group['id']],
+                                               **inst)
         # reload to get groups
         instance_ref = db.instance_get(self.context, ref['id'])
         try: