diff --git a/modules/rhizo_base/manifests/init.pp b/modules/rhizo_base/manifests/init.pp
index d1276e4..eec638d 100644
--- a/modules/rhizo_base/manifests/init.pp
+++ b/modules/rhizo_base/manifests/init.pp
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ class rhizo_base {
   # VPN ip address
   $vpn_ip_address = hiera('rhizo::vpn_ip_address')
   $wan_ip_address = hiera('rhizo::wan_ip_address')
+  $riak_ip_address = hiera('rhizo::riak_ip_address', $vpn_ip_address)
 
   # SITE settings
   # rate type can be "call" or "min"
diff --git a/modules/rhizo_base/templates/config_values.py.erb b/modules/rhizo_base/templates/config_values.py.erb
index a209d2a..e5743b6 100644
--- a/modules/rhizo_base/templates/config_values.py.erb
+++ b/modules/rhizo_base/templates/config_values.py.erb
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ network_name = "<%= @network_name %>"
 # VPN ip address
 vpn_ip_address = "<%= @vpn_ip_address %>"
 wan_ip_address = "<%= @wan_ip_address %>"
+riak_ip_address = "<%= @riak_ip_address %>"
+
 
 # SITE settings
 # rate type can be "call" or "min"