diff --git a/metrics-core/src/main/java/org/rhq/metrics/RHQMetrics.java b/metrics-core/src/main/java/org/rhq/metrics/RHQMetrics.java
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/metrics-core/src/main/java/org/rhq/metrics/RHQMetrics.java
+++ b/metrics-core/src/main/java/org/rhq/metrics/RHQMetrics.java
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ public class RHQMetrics {
             options = new HashMap<>();
             options.put("cqlport", cassandraCqlPortString);
             options.put("nodes", cassandraNodes);
-            options.put("keyspace", "rhq-metrics");
+            options.put("keyspace", "rhq_metrics");
         }
 
         public Builder withOptions(Map<String,String> options) {
- is not  valid character for cql identifiers