diff --git a/lib/daemon/runner.js b/lib/daemon/runner.js
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/lib/daemon/runner.js
+++ b/lib/daemon/runner.js
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ var log = require('../log');
 function Runner(conf) {
   events.EventEmitter.call(this);
   var that = this;
-  this._default_controller = conf.controllername;
+  this._default_controller = conf.controllername || 'retryController';
   this._dbconn = conf.dbconn;
   this._client = new MultiserverClient(conf.servers);
   this._client.on('connect', function() {
Magically know default controller in case it is undefined