diff --git a/ceilometer/server/backend/default.yml b/ceilometer/server/backend/default.yml
index 8842e11..542314c 100644
--- a/ceilometer/server/backend/default.yml
+++ b/ceilometer/server/backend/default.yml
@@ -6,7 +6,9 @@
   # they are incompatible with any legacy database publisher backends
   ceilometer:
     server:
-      database: ~
+      database:
+        engine: none
+        password: none
       publisher:
         default:
           enabled: false