diff --git a/backdrop/__init__.py b/backdrop/__init__.py
index 11f8ee49..b2501b1b 100644
--- a/backdrop/__init__.py
+++ b/backdrop/__init__.py
@@ -22,4 +22,5 @@ def func(stat, *args, **kwargs):
             return getattr(self._statsd, item)
 
 statsd = StatsClient(
-    _statsd.StatsClient(prefix=os.getenv("GOVUK_STATSD_PREFIX")))
+    _statsd.StatsClient(prefix=os.getenv(
+        "GOVUK_STATSD_PREFIX", "pp.apps.backdrop")))