diff --git a/bin/rqgenload b/bin/rqgenload
index 8aaf46e..a6e4cfd 100755
--- a/bin/rqgenload
+++ b/bin/rqgenload
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 import optparse
-from rq import use_redis, Queue, Worker
+from rq import use_connection, Queue, Worker
 from rq import dummy
 
 
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ def main():
 
     opts, args, parser = parse_args()
 
-    use_redis()
+    use_connection()
 
     queues = ('default', 'high', 'low')
 
diff --git a/bin/rqinfo b/bin/rqinfo
index 8c5f3f1..06e8192 100755
--- a/bin/rqinfo
+++ b/bin/rqinfo
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import time
 import argparse
 import redis
 from redis.exceptions import ConnectionError
-from rq import use_redis, Queue, Worker
+from rq import use_connection, Queue, Worker
 from rq.utils import gettermsize, make_colorizer
 
 red = make_colorizer('darkred')
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ def main():
 
     # Setup connection to Redis
     redis_conn = redis.Redis(host=args.host, port=args.port, db=args.db)
-    use_redis(redis_conn)
+    use_connection(redis_conn)
     try:
         args.func(args)
     except ConnectionError as e:
diff --git a/bin/rqworker b/bin/rqworker
index 3d390fd..e6a72e2 100755
--- a/bin/rqworker
+++ b/bin/rqworker
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import argparse
 import logbook
 import redis
 from logbook import handlers
-from rq import use_redis, Queue, Worker
+from rq import use_connection, Queue, Worker
 from redis.exceptions import ConnectionError
 
 
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ def main():
 
     # Setup connection to Redis
     redis_conn = redis.Redis(host=args.host, port=args.port, db=args.db)
-    use_redis(redis_conn)
+    use_connection(redis_conn)
     try:
         queues = map(Queue, args.queues)
         w = Worker(queues, name=args.name)
diff --git a/rq/__init__.py b/rq/__init__.py
index f70e950..40ea226 100644
--- a/rq/__init__.py
+++ b/rq/__init__.py
@@ -7,10 +7,6 @@ from .worker import Worker
 from .version import VERSION
 
 
-def use_redis(redis=None):
-    use_connection(redis)
-
-
 __all__ = [
     'use_connection', 'get_current_connection',
     'push_connection', 'pop_connection', 'Connection',
diff --git a/rq/connections.py b/rq/connections.py
index 4087d41..c714a35 100644
--- a/rq/connections.py
+++ b/rq/connections.py
@@ -60,13 +60,16 @@ def pop_connection():
     return _connection_stack.pop()
 
 
-def use_connection(redis):
+def use_connection(redis=None):
     """Clears the stack and uses the given connection.  Protects against mixed
     use of use_connection() and stacked connection contexts.
     """
     assert _connection_stack.depth() <= 1, \
             'You should not mix Connection contexts with use_connection().'
     _connection_stack.empty()
+
+    if redis is None:
+        redis = Redis()
     push_connection(redis)