diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 08549887..0bf5d5c6 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -46,7 +46,6 @@
     "geojson": "^0.4.0",
     "geojson-extent": "^0.3.1",
     "geolib": "^2.0.18",
-    "geopipes-elasticsearch-backend": "^0.2.0",
     "iso3166-1": "^0.2.3",
     "joi": "^10.1.0",
     "lodash": "^4.5.0",
diff --git a/src/backend.js b/src/backend.js
index e99ca5d2..44059d5b 100644
--- a/src/backend.js
+++ b/src/backend.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 const config = require( 'pelias-config' ).generate().esclient;
-const Backend = require('geopipes-elasticsearch-backend');
 const client = require('elasticsearch').Client(config);
 
-module.exports = new Backend(client);
+module.exports = {
+  client: client
+};