diff --git a/synapse/app/admin_cmd.py b/synapse/app/admin_cmd.py
index 04751a6a5e..51a909419f 100644
--- a/synapse/app/admin_cmd.py
+++ b/synapse/app/admin_cmd.py
@@ -45,7 +45,6 @@ from synapse.replication.slave.storage.registration import SlavedRegistrationSto
 from synapse.replication.slave.storage.room import RoomStore
 from synapse.replication.tcp.client import ReplicationClientHandler
 from synapse.server import HomeServer
-from synapse.storage.engines import create_engine
 from synapse.util.logcontext import LoggingContext
 from synapse.util.versionstring import get_version_string
 
@@ -229,14 +228,10 @@ def start(config_options):
 
     synapse.events.USE_FROZEN_DICTS = config.use_frozen_dicts
 
-    database_engine = create_engine(config.database_config)
-
     ss = AdminCmdServer(
         config.server_name,
-        db_config=config.database_config,
         config=config,
         version_string="Synapse/" + get_version_string(synapse),
-        database_engine=database_engine,
     )
 
     setup_logging(ss, config, use_worker_options=True)
diff --git a/synapse/app/appservice.py b/synapse/app/appservice.py
index 02b900f382..e82e0f11e3 100644
--- a/synapse/app/appservice.py
+++ b/synapse/app/appservice.py
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ from synapse.replication.slave.storage.events import SlavedEventStore
 from synapse.replication.slave.storage.registration import SlavedRegistrationStore
 from synapse.replication.tcp.client import ReplicationClientHandler
 from synapse.server import HomeServer
-from synapse.storage.engines import create_engine
 from synapse.util.httpresourcetree import create_resource_tree
 from synapse.util.manhole import manhole
 from synapse.util.versionstring import get_version_string
@@ -143,8 +142,6 @@ def start(config_options):
 
     events.USE_FROZEN_DICTS = config.use_frozen_dicts
 
-    database_engine = create_engine(config.database_config)
-
     if config.notify_appservices:
         sys.stderr.write(
             "\nThe appservices must be disabled in the main synapse process"
@@ -159,10 +156,8 @@ def start(config_options):
 
     ps = AppserviceServer(
         config.server_name,
-        db_config=config.database_config,
         config=config,
         version_string="Synapse/" + get_version_string(synapse),
-        database_engine=database_engine,
     )
 
     setup_logging(ps, config, use_worker_options=True)
diff --git a/synapse/app/client_reader.py b/synapse/app/client_reader.py
index dadb487d5f..3edfe19567 100644
--- a/synapse/app/client_reader.py
+++ b/synapse/app/client_reader.py
@@ -62,7 +62,6 @@ from synapse.rest.client.v2_alpha.keys import KeyChangesServlet, KeyQueryServlet
 from synapse.rest.client.v2_alpha.register import RegisterRestServlet
 from synapse.rest.client.versions import VersionsRestServlet
 from synapse.server import HomeServer
-from synapse.storage.engines import create_engine
 from synapse.util.httpresourcetree import create_resource_tree
 from synapse.util.manhole import manhole
 from synapse.util.versionstring import get_version_string
@@ -181,14 +180,10 @@ def start(config_options):
 
     events.USE_FROZEN_DICTS = config.use_frozen_dicts
 
-    database_engine = create_engine(config.database_config)
-
     ss = ClientReaderServer(
         config.server_name,
-        db_config=config.database_config,
         config=config,
         version_string="Synapse/" + get_version_string(synapse),
-        database_engine=database_engine,
     )
 
     setup_logging(ss, config, use_worker_options=True)
diff --git a/synapse/app/event_creator.py b/synapse/app/event_creator.py
index d110599a35..d0ddbe38fc 100644
--- a/synapse/app/event_creator.py
+++ b/synapse/app/event_creator.py
@@ -57,7 +57,6 @@ from synapse.rest.client.v1.room import (
 )
 from synapse.server import HomeServer
 from synapse.storage.data_stores.main.user_directory import UserDirectoryStore
-from synapse.storage.engines import create_engine
 from synapse.util.httpresourcetree import create_resource_tree
 from synapse.util.manhole import manhole
 from synapse.util.versionstring import get_version_string
@@ -180,14 +179,10 @@ def start(config_options):
 
     events.USE_FROZEN_DICTS = config.use_frozen_dicts
 
-    database_engine = create_engine(config.database_config)
-
     ss = EventCreatorServer(
         config.server_name,
-        db_config=config.database_config,
         config=config,
         version_string="Synapse/" + get_version_string(synapse),
-        database_engine=database_engine,
     )
 
     setup_logging(ss, config, use_worker_options=True)
diff --git a/synapse/app/federation_reader.py b/synapse/app/federation_reader.py
index 418c086254..311523e0ed 100644
--- a/synapse/app/federation_reader.py
+++ b/synapse/app/federation_reader.py
@@ -46,7 +46,6 @@ from synapse.replication.slave.storage.transactions import SlavedTransactionStor
 from synapse.replication.tcp.client import ReplicationClientHandler
 from synapse.rest.key.v2 import KeyApiV2Resource
 from synapse.server import HomeServer
-from synapse.storage.engines import create_engine
 from synapse.util.httpresourcetree import create_resource_tree
 from synapse.util.manhole import manhole
 from synapse.util.versionstring import get_version_string
@@ -162,14 +161,10 @@ def start(config_options):
 
     events.USE_FROZEN_DICTS = config.use_frozen_dicts
 
-    database_engine = create_engine(config.database_config)
-
     ss = FederationReaderServer(
         config.server_name,
-        db_config=config.database_config,
         config=config,
         version_string="Synapse/" + get_version_string(synapse),
-        database_engine=database_engine,
     )
 
     setup_logging(ss, config, use_worker_options=True)
diff --git a/synapse/app/federation_sender.py b/synapse/app/federation_sender.py
index f24920a7d6..83c436229c 100644
--- a/synapse/app/federation_sender.py
+++ b/synapse/app/federation_sender.py
@@ -41,7 +41,6 @@ from synapse.replication.tcp.client import ReplicationClientHandler
 from synapse.replication.tcp.streams._base import ReceiptsStream
 from synapse.server import HomeServer
 from synapse.storage.database import Database
-from synapse.storage.engines import create_engine
 from synapse.types import ReadReceipt
 from synapse.util.async_helpers import Linearizer
 from synapse.util.httpresourcetree import create_resource_tree
@@ -174,8 +173,6 @@ def start(config_options):
 
     events.USE_FROZEN_DICTS = config.use_frozen_dicts
 
-    database_engine = create_engine(config.database_config)
-
     if config.send_federation:
         sys.stderr.write(
             "\nThe send_federation must be disabled in the main synapse process"
@@ -190,10 +187,8 @@ def start(config_options):
 
     ss = FederationSenderServer(
         config.server_name,
-        db_config=config.database_config,
         config=config,
         version_string="Synapse/" + get_version_string(synapse),
-        database_engine=database_engine,
     )
 
     setup_logging(ss, config, use_worker_options=True)
diff --git a/synapse/app/frontend_proxy.py b/synapse/app/frontend_proxy.py
index e647459d0e..30e435eead 100644
--- a/synapse/app/frontend_proxy.py
+++ b/synapse/app/frontend_proxy.py
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@ from synapse.replication.slave.storage.registration import SlavedRegistrationSto
 from synapse.replication.tcp.client import ReplicationClientHandler
 from synapse.rest.client.v2_alpha._base import client_patterns
 from synapse.server import HomeServer
-from synapse.storage.engines import create_engine
 from synapse.util.httpresourcetree import create_resource_tree
 from synapse.util.manhole import manhole
 from synapse.util.versionstring import get_version_string
@@ -234,14 +233,10 @@ def start(config_options):
 
     events.USE_FROZEN_DICTS = config.use_frozen_dicts
 
-    database_engine = create_engine(config.database_config)
-
     ss = FrontendProxyServer(
         config.server_name,
-        db_config=config.database_config,
         config=config,
         version_string="Synapse/" + get_version_string(synapse),
-        database_engine=database_engine,
     )
 
     setup_logging(ss, config, use_worker_options=True)
diff --git a/synapse/app/homeserver.py b/synapse/app/homeserver.py
index df65d0a989..79341784c5 100644
--- a/synapse/app/homeserver.py
+++ b/synapse/app/homeserver.py
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ from synapse.rest.media.v0.content_repository import ContentRepoResource
 from synapse.rest.well_known import WellKnownResource
 from synapse.server import HomeServer
 from synapse.storage import DataStore
-from synapse.storage.engines import IncorrectDatabaseSetup, create_engine
+from synapse.storage.engines import IncorrectDatabaseSetup
 from synapse.storage.prepare_database import UpgradeDatabaseException
 from synapse.util.caches import CACHE_SIZE_FACTOR
 from synapse.util.httpresourcetree import create_resource_tree
@@ -328,15 +328,10 @@ def setup(config_options):
 
     events.USE_FROZEN_DICTS = config.use_frozen_dicts
 
-    database_engine = create_engine(config.database_config)
-    config.database_config["args"]["cp_openfun"] = database_engine.on_new_connection
-
     hs = SynapseHomeServer(
         config.server_name,
-        db_config=config.database_config,
         config=config,
         version_string="Synapse/" + get_version_string(synapse),
-        database_engine=database_engine,
     )
 
     synapse.config.logger.setup_logging(hs, config, use_worker_options=False)
diff --git a/synapse/app/media_repository.py b/synapse/app/media_repository.py
index 2c6dd3ef02..4c80f257e2 100644
--- a/synapse/app/media_repository.py
+++ b/synapse/app/media_repository.py
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@ from synapse.rest.admin import register_servlets_for_media_repo
 from synapse.rest.media.v0.content_repository import ContentRepoResource
 from synapse.server import HomeServer
 from synapse.storage.data_stores.main.media_repository import MediaRepositoryStore
-from synapse.storage.engines import create_engine
 from synapse.util.httpresourcetree import create_resource_tree
 from synapse.util.manhole import manhole
 from synapse.util.versionstring import get_version_string
@@ -157,14 +156,10 @@ def start(config_options):
 
     events.USE_FROZEN_DICTS = config.use_frozen_dicts
 
-    database_engine = create_engine(config.database_config)
-
     ss = MediaRepositoryServer(
         config.server_name,
-        db_config=config.database_config,
         config=config,
         version_string="Synapse/" + get_version_string(synapse),
-        database_engine=database_engine,
     )
 
     setup_logging(ss, config, use_worker_options=True)
diff --git a/synapse/app/pusher.py b/synapse/app/pusher.py
index 01a5ffc363..e157cbf64b 100644
--- a/synapse/app/pusher.py
+++ b/synapse/app/pusher.py
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ from synapse.replication.slave.storage.receipts import SlavedReceiptsStore
 from synapse.replication.tcp.client import ReplicationClientHandler
 from synapse.server import HomeServer
 from synapse.storage import DataStore
-from synapse.storage.engines import create_engine
 from synapse.util.httpresourcetree import create_resource_tree
 from synapse.util.manhole import manhole
 from synapse.util.versionstring import get_version_string
@@ -198,14 +197,10 @@ def start(config_options):
     # Force the pushers to start since they will be disabled in the main config
     config.start_pushers = True
 
-    database_engine = create_engine(config.database_config)
-
     ps = PusherServer(
         config.server_name,
-        db_config=config.database_config,
         config=config,
         version_string="Synapse/" + get_version_string(synapse),
-        database_engine=database_engine,
     )
 
     setup_logging(ps, config, use_worker_options=True)
diff --git a/synapse/app/synchrotron.py b/synapse/app/synchrotron.py
index 288ee64b42..dd2132e608 100644
--- a/synapse/app/synchrotron.py
+++ b/synapse/app/synchrotron.py
@@ -55,7 +55,6 @@ from synapse.rest.client.v1.room import RoomInitialSyncRestServlet
 from synapse.rest.client.v2_alpha import sync
 from synapse.server import HomeServer
 from synapse.storage.data_stores.main.presence import UserPresenceState
-from synapse.storage.engines import create_engine
 from synapse.util.httpresourcetree import create_resource_tree
 from synapse.util.manhole import manhole
 from synapse.util.stringutils import random_string
@@ -437,14 +436,10 @@ def start(config_options):
 
     synapse.events.USE_FROZEN_DICTS = config.use_frozen_dicts
 
-    database_engine = create_engine(config.database_config)
-
     ss = SynchrotronServer(
         config.server_name,
-        db_config=config.database_config,
         config=config,
         version_string="Synapse/" + get_version_string(synapse),
-        database_engine=database_engine,
         application_service_handler=SynchrotronApplicationService(),
     )
 
diff --git a/synapse/app/user_dir.py b/synapse/app/user_dir.py
index c01fb34a9b..1257098f92 100644
--- a/synapse/app/user_dir.py
+++ b/synapse/app/user_dir.py
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@ from synapse.rest.client.v2_alpha import user_directory
 from synapse.server import HomeServer
 from synapse.storage.data_stores.main.user_directory import UserDirectoryStore
 from synapse.storage.database import Database
-from synapse.storage.engines import create_engine
 from synapse.util.caches.stream_change_cache import StreamChangeCache
 from synapse.util.httpresourcetree import create_resource_tree
 from synapse.util.manhole import manhole
@@ -200,8 +199,6 @@ def start(config_options):
 
     events.USE_FROZEN_DICTS = config.use_frozen_dicts
 
-    database_engine = create_engine(config.database_config)
-
     if config.update_user_directory:
         sys.stderr.write(
             "\nThe update_user_directory must be disabled in the main synapse process"
@@ -216,10 +213,8 @@ def start(config_options):
 
     ss = UserDirectoryServer(
         config.server_name,
-        db_config=config.database_config,
         config=config,
         version_string="Synapse/" + get_version_string(synapse),
-        database_engine=database_engine,
     )
 
     setup_logging(ss, config, use_worker_options=True)
diff --git a/synapse/server.py b/synapse/server.py
index 2db3dab221..a8b5459ff3 100644
--- a/synapse/server.py
+++ b/synapse/server.py
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ from synapse.server_notices.worker_server_notices_sender import (
 )
 from synapse.state import StateHandler, StateResolutionHandler
 from synapse.storage import DataStores, Storage
+from synapse.storage.engines import create_engine
 from synapse.streams.events import EventSources
 from synapse.util import Clock
 from synapse.util.distributor import Distributor
@@ -209,7 +210,7 @@ class HomeServer(object):
     # instantiated during setup() for future return by get_datastore()
     DATASTORE_CLASS = abc.abstractproperty()
 
-    def __init__(self, hostname, reactor=None, **kwargs):
+    def __init__(self, hostname, config, reactor=None, **kwargs):
         """
         Args:
             hostname : The hostname for the server.
@@ -219,6 +220,7 @@ class HomeServer(object):
 
         self._reactor = reactor
         self.hostname = hostname
+        self.config = config
         self._building = {}
         self._listening_services = []
         self.start_time = None
@@ -229,6 +231,12 @@ class HomeServer(object):
         self.admin_redaction_ratelimiter = Ratelimiter()
         self.registration_ratelimiter = Ratelimiter()
 
+        self.database_engine = create_engine(config.database_config)
+        config.database_config.setdefault("args", {})[
+            "cp_openfun"
+        ] = self.database_engine.on_new_connection
+        self.db_config = config.database_config
+
         self.datastores = None
 
         # Other kwargs are explicit dependencies
diff --git a/tests/test_types.py b/tests/test_types.py
index 9ab5f829b0..8d97c751ea 100644
--- a/tests/test_types.py
+++ b/tests/test_types.py
@@ -17,18 +17,15 @@ from synapse.api.errors import SynapseError
 from synapse.types import GroupID, RoomAlias, UserID, map_username_to_mxid_localpart
 
 from tests import unittest
-from tests.utils import TestHomeServer
-
-mock_homeserver = TestHomeServer(hostname="my.domain")
 
 
-class UserIDTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
+class UserIDTestCase(unittest.HomeserverTestCase):
     def test_parse(self):
-        user = UserID.from_string("@1234abcd:my.domain")
+        user = UserID.from_string("@1234abcd:test")
 
         self.assertEquals("1234abcd", user.localpart)
-        self.assertEquals("my.domain", user.domain)
-        self.assertEquals(True, mock_homeserver.is_mine(user))
+        self.assertEquals("test", user.domain)
+        self.assertEquals(True, self.hs.is_mine(user))
 
     def test_pase_empty(self):
         with self.assertRaises(SynapseError):
@@ -48,13 +45,13 @@ class UserIDTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertTrue(userA != userB)
 
 
-class RoomAliasTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
+class RoomAliasTestCase(unittest.HomeserverTestCase):
     def test_parse(self):
-        room = RoomAlias.from_string("#channel:my.domain")
+        room = RoomAlias.from_string("#channel:test")
 
         self.assertEquals("channel", room.localpart)
-        self.assertEquals("my.domain", room.domain)
-        self.assertEquals(True, mock_homeserver.is_mine(room))
+        self.assertEquals("test", room.domain)
+        self.assertEquals(True, self.hs.is_mine(room))
 
     def test_build(self):
         room = RoomAlias("channel", "my.domain")
diff --git a/tests/utils.py b/tests/utils.py
index c57da59191..585f305b9a 100644
--- a/tests/utils.py
+++ b/tests/utils.py
@@ -260,9 +260,7 @@ def setup_test_homeserver(
         hs = homeserverToUse(
             name,
             config=config,
-            db_config=config.database_config,
             version_string="Synapse/tests",
-            database_engine=db_engine,
             tls_server_context_factory=Mock(),
             tls_client_options_factory=Mock(),
             reactor=reactor,