diff --git a/stacktach/db.py b/stacktach/db.py
index d28d723..9dd525f 100644
--- a/stacktach/db.py
+++ b/stacktach/db.py
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@ def _safe_get(Model, **kwargs):
     return object
 
 
+def get_deployment(id):
+    return _safe_get(models.Deployment, id=id)
+
+
 def get_or_create_deployment(name):
     return models.Deployment.objects.get_or_create(name=name)
 
@@ -132,4 +136,4 @@ def get_image_delete(**kwargs):
 
 
 def get_image_usage(**kwargs):
-    return _safe_get(models.ImageUsage, **kwargs)
\ No newline at end of file
+    return _safe_get(models.ImageUsage, **kwargs)
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_worker.py b/tests/unit/test_worker.py
index a03a080..4e594ee 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_worker.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_worker.py
@@ -168,10 +168,10 @@ class ConsumerTestCase(StacktachBaseTestCase):
             "services": ["nova"],
             "topics": {"nova": self._test_topics()}
         }
-        self.mox.StubOutWithMock(db, 'get_or_create_deployment')
+        self.mox.StubOutWithMock(db, 'get_deployment')
         deployment = self.mox.CreateMockAnything()
-        db.get_or_create_deployment(config['name'])\
-          .AndReturn((deployment, True))
+        deployment.id = 1
+        db.get_deployment(deployment.id).AndReturn(deployment)
         self.mox.StubOutWithMock(kombu.connection, 'BrokerConnection')
         params = dict(hostname=config['rabbit_host'],
                       port=config['rabbit_port'],
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ class ConsumerTestCase(StacktachBaseTestCase):
         consumer.run()
         worker.continue_running().AndReturn(False)
         self.mox.ReplayAll()
-        worker.run(config, exchange)
+        worker.run(config, deployment.id, exchange)
         self.mox.VerifyAll()
 
     def test_run_queue_args(self):
@@ -210,10 +210,10 @@ class ConsumerTestCase(StacktachBaseTestCase):
             "services": ["nova"],
             "topics": {"nova": self._test_topics()}
         }
-        self.mox.StubOutWithMock(db, 'get_or_create_deployment')
+        self.mox.StubOutWithMock(db, 'get_deployment')
         deployment = self.mox.CreateMockAnything()
-        db.get_or_create_deployment(config['name'])\
-          .AndReturn((deployment, True))
+        deployment.id = 1
+        db.get_deployment(deployment.id).AndReturn(deployment)
         self.mox.StubOutWithMock(kombu.connection, 'BrokerConnection')
         params = dict(hostname=config['rabbit_host'],
                       port=config['rabbit_port'],
@@ -236,5 +236,5 @@ class ConsumerTestCase(StacktachBaseTestCase):
         consumer.run()
         worker.continue_running().AndReturn(False)
         self.mox.ReplayAll()
-        worker.run(config, exchange)
+        worker.run(config, deployment.id, exchange)
         self.mox.VerifyAll()
diff --git a/worker/start_workers.py b/worker/start_workers.py
index 0558b57..a6a5e20 100644
--- a/worker/start_workers.py
+++ b/worker/start_workers.py
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@ POSSIBLE_TOPDIR = os.path.normpath(os.path.join(os.path.abspath(sys.argv[0]),
 if os.path.exists(os.path.join(POSSIBLE_TOPDIR, 'stacktach')):
     sys.path.insert(0, POSSIBLE_TOPDIR)
 
+from stacktach import db
+from django.db import close_connection
+
 import worker.worker as worker
 from worker import config
 
@@ -30,8 +33,15 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
 
     for deployment in config.deployments():
         if deployment.get('enabled', True):
+            db_deployment, new = db.get_or_create_deployment(deployment['name'])
+            # NOTE (apmelton)
+            # Close the connection before spinning up the child process,
+            # otherwise the child process will attempt to use the connection
+            # the parent process opened up to get/create the deployment.
+            close_connection()
             for exchange in deployment.get('topics').keys():
                 process = Process(target=worker.run, args=(deployment,
+                                                           db_deployment.id,
                                                            exchange,))
                 process.daemon = True
                 process.start()
diff --git a/worker/worker.py b/worker/worker.py
index 1d20da8..e646788 100644
--- a/worker/worker.py
+++ b/worker/worker.py
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ def exit_or_sleep(exit=False):
     time.sleep(5)
 
 
-def run(deployment_config, exchange):
+def run(deployment_config, deployment_id, exchange):
     name = deployment_config['name']
     host = deployment_config.get('rabbit_host', 'localhost')
     port = deployment_config.get('rabbit_port', 5672)
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ def run(deployment_config, exchange):
     exit_on_exception = deployment_config.get('exit_on_exception', False)
     topics = deployment_config.get('topics', {})
 
-    deployment, new = db.get_or_create_deployment(name)
+    deployment = db.get_deployment(deployment_id)
 
     print "Starting worker for '%s %s'" % (name, exchange)
     LOG.info("%s: %s %s %s %s %s" % (name, exchange, host, port, user_id,