diff --git a/django_q/cluster.py b/django_q/cluster.py
index ffae237..cd01887 100644
--- a/django_q/cluster.py
+++ b/django_q/cluster.py
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ class Sentinel(object):
         return p
 
     def spawn_pusher(self):
-        return self.spawn_process(pusher, self.task_queue, self.event_out, self.list_key, self.r)
+        return self.spawn_process(pusher, self.task_queue, self.event_out, self.list_key)
 
     def spawn_worker(self):
         self.spawn_process(worker, self.task_queue, self.result_queue, Value('f', -1), self.timeout)
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ class Sentinel(object):
         Stat(self).save()
 
 
-def pusher(task_queue, event, list_key=Conf.Q_LIST, r=redis_client):
+def pusher(task_queue, event, list_key=Conf.Q_LIST):
     """
     Pulls tasks of the Redis List and puts them in the task queue
     :type task_queue: multiprocessing.Queue
@@ -295,6 +295,7 @@ def pusher(task_queue, event, list_key=Conf.Q_LIST, r=redis_client):
     :type list_key: str
     """
     logger.info(_('{} pushing tasks at {}').format(current_process().name, current_process().pid))
+    r = redis_client
     while True:
         try:
             task = r.blpop(list_key, 1)
diff --git a/django_q/tests/test_cluster.py b/django_q/tests/test_cluster.py
index a5c1154..8ca9e3a 100644
--- a/django_q/tests/test_cluster.py
+++ b/django_q/tests/test_cluster.py
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ def test_cluster(r):
     event = Event()
     event.set()
     # Test push
-    pusher(task_queue, event, list_key=list_key, r=r)
+    pusher(task_queue, event, list_key=list_key)
     assert task_queue.qsize() == 1
     assert queue_size(list_key=list_key, r=r) == 0
     # Test work
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ def test_async(r, admin_user):
     stop_event.set()
     # push the tasks
     for i in range(task_count):
-        pusher(task_queue, stop_event, list_key=list_key, r=r)
+        pusher(task_queue, stop_event, list_key=list_key)
     assert queue_size(list_key=list_key, r=r) == 0
     assert task_queue.qsize() == task_count
     task_queue.put('STOP')
@@ -292,8 +292,8 @@ def test_recycle(r):
     task_queue = Queue()
     result_queue = Queue()
     # push two tasks
-    pusher(task_queue, stop_event, list_key=list_key, r=r)
-    pusher(task_queue, stop_event, list_key=list_key, r=r)
+    pusher(task_queue, stop_event, list_key=list_key)
+    pusher(task_queue, stop_event, list_key=list_key)
     # worker should exit on recycle
     worker(task_queue, result_queue, Value('f', -1))
     # check if the work has been done
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ def test_bad_secret(r, monkeypatch):
     assert len(stat) == 0
     assert Stat.get(s.parent_pid, r) is None
     task_queue = Queue()
-    pusher(task_queue, stop_event, list_key=list_key, r=r)
+    pusher(task_queue, stop_event, list_key=list_key)
     result_queue = Queue()
     task_queue.put('STOP')
     worker(task_queue, result_queue, Value('f', -1), )
diff --git a/django_q/tests/test_scheduler.py b/django_q/tests/test_scheduler.py
index 05f5281..7709477 100644
--- a/django_q/tests/test_scheduler.py
+++ b/django_q/tests/test_scheduler.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ def test_scheduler(r):
     stop_event = Event()
     stop_event.set()
     # push it
-    pusher(task_queue, stop_event, list_key=list_key, r=r)
+    pusher(task_queue, stop_event, list_key=list_key)
     assert task_queue.qsize() == 1
     assert queue_size(list_key=list_key, r=r) == 0
     task_queue.put('STOP')