diff --git a/django_elasticache/memcached.py b/django_elasticache/memcached.py
index d301580..35cb0e2 100644
--- a/django_elasticache/memcached.py
+++ b/django_elasticache/memcached.py
@@ -53,19 +53,14 @@ def get_cluster_nodes(self):
                 self._servers[0], err
             ))
 
-    @property
+    @cached_property
     def _cache(self):
         # PylibMC uses cache options as the 'behaviors' attribute.
         # It also needs to use threadlocals, because some versions of
         # PylibMC don't play well with the GIL.
-        client = getattr(self._local, 'client', None)
-        if client:
-            return client
 
         client = self._lib.Client(self.get_cluster_nodes)
         if self._options:
             client.behaviors = self._options
 
-        self._local.client = client
-
         return client
diff --git a/tests/test_backend.py b/tests/test_backend.py
index e6d6d63..83a4e69 100644
--- a/tests/test_backend.py
+++ b/tests/test_backend.py
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 from mock import patch, Mock
 from nose.tools import eq_, raises
 
+from django.conf import settings
+settings.configure()
+global_settings.configured = True
 
 @patch('django.conf.settings', global_settings)
 def test_patch_params():
@@ -40,3 +43,17 @@ def test_split_servers(get_cluster_info):
     assert backend._cache
     get_cluster_info.assert_called_once_with('h', '0')
     backend._lib.Client.assert_called_once_with(servers)
+
+@patch('django.conf.settings', global_settings)
+@patch('django_elasticache.memcached.get_cluster_info')
+def test_property_cache(get_cluster_info):
+    from django_elasticache.memcached import ElastiCache
+    backend = ElastiCache('h:0', {})
+    servers = ['h1:p', 'h2:p']
+    get_cluster_info.return_value = {
+        'nodes': servers
+    }
+    backend._lib.Client = Mock()
+    backend.set('key1', 'val')
+    backend.set('key2', 'val')
+    backend._lib.Client.assert_called_once_with(servers)