diff --git a/zerver/lib/rate_limiter.py b/zerver/lib/rate_limiter.py
index 71634f64f6..86e8b81bd9 100644
--- a/zerver/lib/rate_limiter.py
+++ b/zerver/lib/rate_limiter.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from __future__ import absolute_import
 
 from django.conf import settings
+from zerver.lib.redis_utils import get_redis_client
 
 import redis
 import time
@@ -11,7 +12,7 @@ from itertools import izip
 # Implement a rate-limiting scheme inspired by the one described here, but heavily modified
 # http://blog.domaintools.com/2013/04/rate-limiting-with-redis/
 
-client = redis.StrictRedis(host=settings.REDIS_HOST, port=settings.REDIS_PORT, db=0)
+client = get_redis_client()
 rules = settings.RATE_LIMITING_RULES
 def _rules_for_user(user):
     if user.rate_limits != "":
diff --git a/zerver/lib/redis_utils.py b/zerver/lib/redis_utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7cb951d3bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/zerver/lib/redis_utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+from __future__ import absolute_import
+
+from django.conf import settings
+
+import redis
+
+def get_redis_client():
+    return redis.StrictRedis(host=settings.REDIS_HOST, port=settings.REDIS_PORT, db=0)
diff --git a/zerver/lib/socket.py b/zerver/lib/socket.py
index 97a71c9081..83e75eb41d 100644
--- a/zerver/lib/socket.py
+++ b/zerver/lib/socket.py
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ import tornado.ioloop
 import ujson
 import logging
 import time
-import redis
 
 from zerver.models import UserProfile, get_user_profile_by_id, get_client
 from zerver.lib.queue import queue_json_publish
@@ -20,6 +19,7 @@ from zerver.lib.utils import statsd
 from zerver.lib.event_queue import get_client_descriptor
 from zerver.middleware import record_request_start_data, record_request_stop_data, \
     record_request_restart_data, write_log_line, format_timedelta
+from zerver.lib.redis_utils import get_redis_client
 
 logger = logging.getLogger('zulip.socket')
 
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ def register_connection(id, conn):
 def deregister_connection(conn):
     del connections[conn.client_id]
 
-redis_client = redis.StrictRedis(host=settings.REDIS_HOST, port=settings.REDIS_PORT, db=0)
+redis_client = get_redis_client()
 
 def req_redis_key(req_id):
     return 'socket_req_status:%s' % (req_id,)
diff --git a/zerver/worker/queue_processors.py b/zerver/worker/queue_processors.py
index d4524a3e2f..8ebc6f7977 100644
--- a/zerver/worker/queue_processors.py
+++ b/zerver/worker/queue_processors.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ from zerver.lib.socket import req_redis_key
 from confirmation.models import Confirmation
 from zerver.lib.db import reset_queries
 from django.core.mail import EmailMessage
+from zerver.lib.redis_utils import get_redis_client
 
 import os
 import sys
@@ -32,7 +33,6 @@ import time
 import datetime
 import logging
 import simplejson
-import redis
 import StringIO
 
 def assign_queue(queue_name, enabled=True):
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ class SlowQueryWorker(QueueProcessingWorker):
 class MessageSenderWorker(QueueProcessingWorker):
     def __init__(self):
         super(MessageSenderWorker, self).__init__()
-        self.redis_client = redis.StrictRedis(host=settings.REDIS_HOST, port=settings.REDIS_PORT, db=0)
+        self.redis_client = get_redis_client()
         self.handler = BaseHandler()
         self.handler.load_middleware()
 
diff --git a/zilencer/views.py b/zilencer/views.py
index 628d6acbb1..323a76cd97 100644
--- a/zilencer/views.py
+++ b/zilencer/views.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ from django.template import RequestContext, loader
 
 from zerver.decorator import has_request_variables, REQ, json_to_dict
 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, json_method_not_allowed
 from zerver.lib.rest import rest_dispatch as _rest_dispatch
 from zerver.models import get_realm, get_user_profile_by_email, resolve_email_to_domain, \
@@ -16,11 +17,10 @@ from error_notify import notify_server_error, notify_browser_error
 from django.core.mail import send_mail
 from django.conf import settings
 import time
-import redis
 
 rest_dispatch = csrf_exempt((lambda request, *args, **kwargs: _rest_dispatch(request, globals(), *args, **kwargs)))
 
-client = redis.StrictRedis(host=settings.REDIS_HOST, port=settings.REDIS_PORT, db=0)
+client = get_redis_client()
 
 def has_enough_time_expired_since_last_message(sender_email, min_delay):
     # This function returns a boolean, but it also has the side effect