diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6e936ec..e4a8c2a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ require 'snowden'
 aes_key = "a"*(256/8)
 aes_iv  = "b"*(128/8)
 
-index    = Snowden.new_encrypted_index(aes_key, aes_iv)
+index    = Snowden.new_encrypted_index(aes_key, aes_iv, Snowden::Backends::HashBackend.new)
 searcher = Snowden.new_encrypted_searcher(aes_key, aes_iv, index)
 
 index.store("bacon", "bits")
@@ -106,24 +106,7 @@ index = Snowden.new_encrypted_index(aes_key, aes_iv, redis_backend)
 ## Configuration
 
 Snowden has a core configuration object that allows you to change various
-aspects of the gem's operation. Examples include:
-
-
-###Changing the default backend used by indices
-```ruby
-require "redis"
-
-redis = Redis.new(:driver => :hiredis)
-redis_backend = Snowden::Backends::RedisBackend.new("index_namespace", redis)
-
-Snowden.configuration.backend = redis_backend
-
-#Sometime later:
-aes_key = OpenSSL::Random.random_bytes(256/8)
-aes_iv = OpenSSL::Random.random_bytes(128/8)
-
-index = Snowden.new_encrypted_index(aes_key, aes_iv)
-```
+aspects of the gem's operation.
 
 ###Changing the cipher used by Snowden
 
@@ -131,7 +114,7 @@ index = Snowden.new_encrypted_index(aes_key, aes_iv)
 Snowden.configuration.cipher_spec = "RC4"
 
 #Sometime later:
-index = Snowden.new_encrypted_index(key, iv)
+index = Snowden.new_encrypted_index(key, iv, Snowden::Backends::HashBackend.new)
 ```
 
 For a complete list of possible ciphers you can use this snippet in `irb`
diff --git a/lib/snowden.rb b/lib/snowden.rb
index eb2e318..19d5583 100644
--- a/lib/snowden.rb
+++ b/lib/snowden.rb
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ def self.configuration
   # @return [Snowden::EncryptedSearchIndex]
   #   a snowden index to store values in.
   #
-  def self.new_encrypted_index(key, iv, backend=configuration.backend)
+  def self.new_encrypted_index(key, iv, backend)
     EncryptedSearchIndex.new(
       :crypto             => crypto_for(key, iv),
       :backend            => backend,
diff --git a/lib/snowden/configuration.rb b/lib/snowden/configuration.rb
index 7712fde..ad78acc 100644
--- a/lib/snowden/configuration.rb
+++ b/lib/snowden/configuration.rb
@@ -15,20 +15,14 @@ module Snowden
   #                                  Change at your own risk.
   #                                  Never set to lower than 2 blocks if you're
   #                                  using a block cipher.
-  #
-  #@attr backend The default snowden storage backend.
-  #              Defaults to an instance of Snowden::Backends::HashBackend
   class Configuration
     attr_accessor :edit_distance, :cipher_spec, :padding_byte_size, :backend
 
-
-
     #Sets up the configuration object
     def initialize
       @edit_distance     = 3
       @cipher_spec       = "AES-256-CBC"
       @padding_byte_size = 32
-      @backend           = Snowden::Backends::HashBackend.new
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/readme_spec.rb b/spec/readme_spec.rb
index 29018c9..862c419 100644
--- a/spec/readme_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/readme_spec.rb
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 describe "the examples from the readme" do
   before do
     Redis.new(:driver => :hiredis).flushdb
-    Snowden.configuration.backend = Snowden::Backends::HashBackend.new("",{})
   end
 
   it "works for the example in the usage section" do
@@ -13,7 +12,7 @@
     aes_key = "a"*(256/8)
     aes_iv  = "b"*(128/8)
 
-    index    = Snowden.new_encrypted_index(aes_key, aes_iv)
+    index    = Snowden.new_encrypted_index(aes_key, aes_iv, Snowden::Backends::HashBackend.new("",{}))
     searcher = Snowden.new_encrypted_searcher(aes_key, aes_iv, index)
 
     index.store("bacon", "bits")
@@ -36,20 +35,6 @@
     expect(searcher.search("bac")).to eq(["bits"])
   end
 
-  it "works for the redis example in the configuration section" do
-    aes_key = "a"*(256/8)
-    aes_iv  = "b"*(128/8)
-
-    redis = Redis.new(:driver => :hiredis)
-    redis_backend = Snowden::Backends::RedisBackend.new("index_namespace", redis)
-
-    Snowden.configuration.backend = redis_backend
-
-    #Sometime later:
-    index = Snowden.new_encrypted_index(aes_key, aes_iv)
-    expect(index.instance_variable_get(:@backend)).to be_a(Snowden::Backends::RedisBackend)
-  end
-
   it "works for the cipher_spec example in the configuration section" do
     Snowden.configuration.cipher_spec = "RC4"
 
@@ -57,6 +42,6 @@
     aes_iv  = "b"*(128/8)
 
     #Sometime later:
-    index = Snowden.new_encrypted_index(aes_key, aes_iv)
+    index = Snowden.new_encrypted_index(aes_key, aes_iv, Snowden::Backends::HashBackend.new("",{}))
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/snowden_spec.rb b/spec/snowden_spec.rb
index 9223b2b..74d94a3 100644
--- a/spec/snowden_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/snowden_spec.rb
@@ -6,7 +6,12 @@
   let(:iv)      { "b"*(128/8) }
 
   describe ".new_encrypted_index" do
-    subject(:index) { Snowden.new_encrypted_index(key, iv) }
+    subject(:index) { Snowden.new_encrypted_index(
+        key,
+        iv,
+        Snowden::Backends::HashBackend.new({})
+      )
+    }
 
     it "gives back an index" do
       expect(index).to be_a_kind_of Snowden::EncryptedSearchIndex
@@ -23,7 +28,12 @@
   end
 
   describe ".new_encrypted_searcher" do
-    let(:index)        { Snowden.new_encrypted_index(key, iv) }
+    let(:index) { Snowden.new_encrypted_index(
+        key,
+        iv,
+        Snowden::Backends::HashBackend.new({})
+      )
+    }
     subject(:searcher) { Snowden.new_encrypted_searcher(key, iv, index) }
 
     it "gives back a searcher" do