diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c1fe06f9..ad19de2f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ Options:
 * `connectTimeout`: the max number of milliseconds to wait for the CONNECT
   packet to arrive, defaults to `30000` milliseconds
 * `id`: id used to identify this broker instance in `$SYS` messages,
-  defaults to `uuidv5()`
+  defaults to `uuidv4()`
 * `preConnect`: function called when a valid CONNECT is received, see
   [instance.preConnect()](#preConnect)
 * `authenticate`: function used to authenticate clients, see
diff --git a/aedes.js b/aedes.js
index e3e04834..96db255e 100644
--- a/aedes.js
+++ b/aedes.js
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ var util = require('util')
 var memory = require('aedes-persistence')
 var parallel = require('fastparallel')
 var series = require('fastseries')
-var uuidv5 = require('uuid/v5')
+var uuidv4 = require('uuid/v4')
 var Packet = require('aedes-packet')
 var bulk = require('bulk-write-stream')
 var reusify = require('reusify')
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ function Aedes (opts) {
 
   opts = Object.assign({}, defaultOptions, opts)
 
-  this.id = opts.id || uuidv5('https://github.com/mcollina/aedes', uuidv5.URL)
+  this.id = opts.id || uuidv4()
   this.counter = 0
   this.connectTimeout = opts.connectTimeout
   this.mq = opts.mq || mqemitter(opts)