diff --git a/analytics/views.py b/analytics/views.py
index e1d8b0bc6a..9e4945e8fc 100644
--- a/analytics/views.py
+++ b/analytics/views.py
@@ -868,7 +868,7 @@ def get_realm_activity(request, realm):
     all_user_records = {} # type: Dict[str, Any]
 
     try:
-        admins = get_realm(realm).get_admin_users()
+        admins = Realm.objects.get(domain=realm).get_admin_users()
     except Realm.DoesNotExist:
         return HttpResponseNotFound("Realm %s does not exist" % (realm,))
 
diff --git a/zerver/lib/test_classes.py b/zerver/lib/test_classes.py
index 0867f51c25..1fc0d21739 100644
--- a/zerver/lib/test_classes.py
+++ b/zerver/lib/test_classes.py
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ class ZulipTestCase(TestCase):
     django_client to fool the regext.
     '''
 
-    DEFAULT_REALM_NAME = 'zulip.com'
+    DEFAULT_REALM = Realm.objects.get(string_id='zulip')
 
     @instrument_url
     def client_patch(self, url, info={}, **kwargs):
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ class ZulipTestCase(TestCase):
     def make_stream(self, stream_name, realm=None, invite_only=False):
         # type: (text_type, Optional[Realm], Optional[bool]) -> Stream
         if realm is None:
-            realm = get_realm(self.DEFAULT_REALM_NAME)
+            realm = self.DEFAULT_REALM
 
         try:
             stream = Stream.objects.create(
diff --git a/zilencer/views.py b/zilencer/views.py
index b723126c24..9bced3d0e8 100644
--- a/zilencer/views.py
+++ b/zilencer/views.py
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@ from zerver.lib.actions import internal_send_message
 from zerver.lib.redis_utils import get_redis_client
 from zerver.lib.response import json_success, json_error, json_response
 from zerver.lib.validator import check_dict
-from zerver.models import get_realm, get_user_profile_by_email, get_realm_by_email_domain, \
-        UserProfile, Realm
+from zerver.models import get_realm_by_string_id, get_user_profile_by_email, \
+    get_realm_by_email_domain, UserProfile, Realm
 from .error_notify import notify_server_error, notify_browser_error
 
 import time
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ def get_ticket_number():
 def submit_feedback(request, deployment, message=REQ(validator=check_dict([]))):
     # type: (HttpRequest, Deployment, Dict[str, text_type]) -> HttpResponse
     domainish = message["sender_domain"]
-    if get_realm("zulip.com") not in deployment.realms.all():
+    if get_realm_by_string_id("zulip") not in deployment.realms.all():
         domainish += u" via " + deployment.name
     subject = "%s" % (message["sender_email"],)