diff --git a/local_settings.py.template b/local_settings.py.template
index 167c37733..a4b58a0e8 100644
--- a/local_settings.py.template
+++ b/local_settings.py.template
@@ -11,9 +11,9 @@ DATABASES = {
 }
 
 MONGO_DB = {
-    'NAME': 'newsblur',
-    'HOST': '127.0.0.1',
-    'PORT': 27017
+    'name': 'newsblur',
+    'host': '127.0.0.1',
+    'port': 27017
 }
 
 DEBUG = True
diff --git a/settings.py b/settings.py
index 76542199a..36917454c 100644
--- a/settings.py
+++ b/settings.py
@@ -440,9 +440,9 @@ DEBUG_TOOLBAR_CONFIG = {
 # = Mongo =
 # =========
 
-MONGODB = connect(MONGO_DB['NAME'], 
-                  host=MONGO_DB['HOST'], 
-                  port=MONGO_DB['PORT'], 
-                  username=MONGO_DB.get('USERNAME'), 
-                  password=MONGO_DB.get('PASSWORD'),
-                  slave_okay=True)
+MONGO_DB_DEFAULTS = {
+    'name': 'newsblur',
+    'host': 'mongodb:db01,db02/?slaveOk=true',
+}
+MONGO_DB = dict(MONGO_DB_DEFAULTS, **MONGO_DB)
+MONGODB = connect(MONGO_DB.pop('name'), **MONGO_DB)