diff --git a/cinder/keymgr/__init__.py b/cinder/keymgr/__init__.py
index e7111afd21e..9ebb72f2860 100644
--- a/cinder/keymgr/__init__.py
+++ b/cinder/keymgr/__init__.py
@@ -13,10 +13,10 @@
 #    License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
 #    under the License.
 
+from castellan import key_manager
 from castellan import options as castellan_opts
 from oslo_config import cfg
 from oslo_log import log as logging
-from oslo_utils import importutils
 
 LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -26,5 +26,4 @@ castellan_opts.set_defaults(CONF)
 
 
 def API(conf=CONF):
-    cls = importutils.import_class(conf.key_manager.backend)
-    return cls(conf)
+    return key_manager.API(conf)
diff --git a/cinder/tests/unit/keymgr/test_init.py b/cinder/tests/unit/keymgr/test_init.py
index 7f87edb14d7..69f8155196d 100644
--- a/cinder/tests/unit/keymgr/test_init.py
+++ b/cinder/tests/unit/keymgr/test_init.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #    License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
 #    under the License.
 
+from castellan.key_manager import barbican_key_manager
 from castellan import options as castellan_opts
 
 from oslo_config import cfg
@@ -34,6 +35,14 @@ class InitTestCase(test.TestCase):
         kmgr = keymgr.API(self.config)
         self.assertEqual(type(kmgr), keymgr.conf_key_mgr.ConfKeyManager)
 
+    def test_barbican_backend(self):
+        self.config.set_override(
+            'backend',
+            'barbican',
+            group='key_manager')
+        kmgr = keymgr.API(self.config)
+        self.assertEqual(type(kmgr), barbican_key_manager.BarbicanKeyManager)
+
     def test_set_conf_key_manager(self):
         self.config.set_override(
             'backend',