diff --git a/priv/bitcask.schema b/priv/bitcask.schema
index 77c2ed92..99a7afd7 100644
--- a/priv/bitcask.schema
+++ b/priv/bitcask.schema
@@ -8,12 +8,6 @@
   {datatype, directory}
 ]}.
 
-%% @see bitcask.data_root
-{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.data_root", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
-  hidden,
-  {datatype, directory}
-]}.
-
 %% @doc Specifies the maximum time Bitcask will block on startup while
 %% attempting to create or open the data directory. You generally need
 %% not change this value. If for some reason the timeout is exceeded
@@ -26,13 +20,6 @@
   hidden
 ]}.
 
-%% @see bitcask.open_timeout
-{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.open_timeout", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
-  {default, "4s"},
-  {datatype, {duration, s}},
-  hidden
-]}.
-
 %% @doc Changes the durability of writes by specifying when to
 %% synchronize data to disk. The default setting protects against data
 %% loss in the event of application failure (process death) but leaves
@@ -65,25 +52,12 @@
   hidden
 ]}.
 
-%% @see bitcask.sync.strategy
-{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.sync.strategy", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
-  {default, none},
-  {datatype, {enum, [none, o_sync, interval]}},
-  hidden
-]}.
-
 %% @see bitcask.sync.strategy
 {mapping, "bitcask.sync.interval", "bitcask.sync_strategy", [
   {datatype, {duration, s}},
   hidden
 ]}.
 
-%% @see bitcask.sync.strategy
-{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.sync.interval", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
-  {datatype, {duration, s}},
-  hidden
-]}.
-
 {translation,
  "bitcask.sync_strategy",
  fun(Conf) ->
@@ -92,8 +66,8 @@
       none -> none;
       o_sync -> o_sync;
       interval ->
-	Interval = cuttlefish:conf_get("bitcask.sync.interval", Conf, undefined),
-	{seconds, Interval};
+        Interval = cuttlefish:conf_get("bitcask.sync.interval", Conf, undefined),
+        {seconds, Interval};
       _Default -> none
     end
  end}.
@@ -108,13 +82,6 @@
   hidden
 ]}.
 
-%% @see bitcask.max_file_size
-{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.max_file_size", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
-  {default, "2GB"},
-  {datatype, bytesize},
-  hidden
-]}.
-
 %% @doc Lets you specify when during the day merge operations are
 %% allowed to be triggered. Valid options are:
 %%
@@ -133,13 +100,6 @@
   hidden
 ]}.
 
-%% @see bitcask.merge.policy
-{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.merge.policy", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
-  {default, always},
-  {datatype, {enum, [always, never, window]}},
-  hidden
-]}.
-
 %% @see bitcask.merge.policy
 {mapping, "bitcask.merge.window.start", "bitcask.merge_window", [
   {default, 0},
@@ -147,13 +107,6 @@
   hidden
 ]}.
 
-%% @see bitcask.merge.policy
-{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.merge.window.start", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
-  {default, 0},
-  {datatype, integer},
-  hidden
-]}.
-
 %% @see bitcask.merge.policy
 {mapping, "bitcask.merge.window.end", "bitcask.merge_window", [
   {default, 23},
@@ -161,13 +114,6 @@
   hidden
 ]}.
 
-%% @see bitcask.merge.policy
-{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.merge.window.end", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
-  {default, 23},
-  {datatype, integer},
-  hidden
-]}.
-
 {translation,
  "bitcask.merge_window",
  fun(Conf) ->
@@ -176,9 +122,9 @@
       always -> always;
       never -> never;
       window ->
-	Start = cuttlefish:conf_get("bitcask.merge.window.start", Conf, undefined),
-	End = cuttlefish:conf_get("bitcask.merge.window.end", Conf, undefined),
-	{Start, End};
+        Start = cuttlefish:conf_get("bitcask.merge.window.start", Conf, undefined),
+        End = cuttlefish:conf_get("bitcask.merge.window.end", Conf, undefined),
+        {Start, End};
       _Default -> always
     end
  end}.
@@ -201,19 +147,11 @@
   {validators, ["is_percentage"]}
 ]}.
 
-%% @see bitcask.merge.triggers.fragmentation
-{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.merge.triggers.fragmentation", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
-  {datatype, integer},
-  hidden,
-  {default, 60},
-  {validators, ["is_percentage"]}
-]}.
-
 {validator,
  "is_percentage",
  "must be a percentage",
  fun(Value) ->
-	 Value >= 0 andalso Value =< 100
+   Value >= 0 andalso Value =< 100
  end}.
 
 %% @doc Describes how much data stored for dead keys in a single file
@@ -227,20 +165,14 @@
 %% directory, Bitcask will attempt to merge files.
 %%
 %% Default is: 512MB
-{mapping, "bitcask.merge.triggers.dead_bytes",
- "bitcask.dead_bytes_merge_trigger",
- [
+{mapping,
+ "bitcask.merge.triggers.dead_bytes",
+ "bitcask.dead_bytes_merge_trigger", [
   {datatype, bytesize},
   hidden,
   {default, "512MB"}
 ]}.
 
-%% @see bitcask.merge.triggers.dead_bytes
-{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.merge.triggers.dead_bytes", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
-  {datatype, bytesize},
-  hidden,
-  {default, "512MB"}
-]}.
 
 %% @doc Describes what ratio of dead keys to total keys in a file will
 %% cause it to be included in the merge. The value of this setting is
@@ -250,17 +182,9 @@
 %% merged, decreasing the value will cause more files to be merged.
 %%
 %% Default is: `40`
-{mapping, "bitcask.merge.thresholds.fragmentation",
- "bitcask.frag_threshold",
-[
-  {datatype, integer},
-  hidden,
-  {default, 40},
-  {validators, ["is_percentage"]}
-]}.
-
-%% @see bitcask.merge.thresholds.fragmentation
-{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.thresholds.fragmentation", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
+{mapping,
+ "bitcask.merge.thresholds.fragmentation",
+ "bitcask.frag_threshold", [
   {datatype, integer},
   hidden,
   {default, 40},
@@ -273,40 +197,28 @@
 %% will cause more files to be merged.
 %%
 %% Default is: 128MB
-{mapping, "bitcask.merge.thresholds.dead_bytes",
+{mapping,
+ "bitcask.merge.thresholds.dead_bytes",
  "bitcask.dead_bytes_threshold", [
   {datatype, bytesize},
   hidden,
   {default, "128MB"}
 ]}.
 
-%% @see bitcask.merge.thresholds.dead_bytes
-{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.thresholds.dead_bytes", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
-  {datatype, bytesize},
-  hidden,
-  {default, "128MB"}
-]}.
-
 %% @doc Describes the minimum size a file must have to be _excluded_
 %% from the merge. Files smaller than the threshold will be
 %% included. Increasing the value will cause _more_ files to be
 %% merged, decreasing the value will cause _fewer_ files to be merged.
 %%
 %% Default is: 10MB
-{mapping, "bitcask.merge.thresholds.small_file",
+{mapping,
+ "bitcask.merge.thresholds.small_file",
  "bitcask.small_file_threshold", [
   {datatype, bytesize},
   hidden,
   {default, "10MB"}
 ]}.
 
-%% @see bitcask.merge.thresholds.small_file
-{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.thresholds.small_file", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
-  {datatype, bytesize},
-  hidden,
-  {default, "10MB"}
-]}.
-
 %% @doc Fold keys thresholds will reuse the keydir if another fold was
 %% started less than `fold.max_age` ago and there were less than
 %% `fold.max_puts` updates.  Otherwise it will wait until all current
@@ -318,22 +230,15 @@
   {default, unlimited}
 ]}.
 
-%% @see bitcask.fold.max_age
-{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.fold.max_age", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
-  {datatype, [{atom, unlimited}, {duration, ms}]},
-  hidden,
-  {default, unlimited}
-]}.
-
 {translation, "bitcask.max_fold_age",
  fun(Conf) ->
-         case cuttlefish:conf_get("bitcask.fold.max_age", Conf) of
-             unlimited -> -1;
-             I when is_integer(I) ->
-                 %% app.config expects microseconds
-                 I * 1000;
-             _ -> -1 %% The default, for safety
-         end
+  case cuttlefish:conf_get("bitcask.fold.max_age", Conf) of
+    unlimited -> -1;
+    I when is_integer(I) ->
+      %% app.config expects microseconds
+      I * 1000;
+    _ -> -1 %% The default, for safety
+  end
  end
 }.
 
@@ -344,19 +249,12 @@
   {default, 0}
 ]}.
 
-%% @see bitcask.fold.max_age
-{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.fold.max_puts", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
-  {datatype, [integer, {atom, unlimited}]},
-  hidden,
-  {default, 0}
-]}.
-
 {translation, "bitcask.max_fold_puts",
  fun(Conf) ->
    case cuttlefish:conf_get("bitcask.fold.max_puts", Conf) of
-       unlimited -> -1;
-       I when is_integer(I) -> I;
-       _ -> 0 %% default catch
+     unlimited -> -1;
+     I when is_integer(I) -> I;
+     _ -> 0 %% default catch
    end
  end
 }.
@@ -373,13 +271,6 @@
   {default, off}
 ]}.
 
-%% @see bitcask.expiry
-{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.expiry", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
-  {datatype, [{atom, off}, {duration, s}]},
-  hidden,
-  {default, off}
-]}.
-
 {translation, "bitcask.expiry_secs",
  fun(Conf) ->
    case cuttlefish:conf_get("bitcask.expiry", Conf) of
@@ -400,19 +291,12 @@
   hidden
 ]}.
 
-%% @see bitcask.hintfile_checksums
-{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.hintfile_checksums", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
-  {default, strict},
-  {datatype, {enum, [strict, allow_missing]}},
-  hidden
-]}.
-
 {translation, "bitcask.require_hint_crc",
  fun(Conf) ->
    case cuttlefish:conf_get("bitcask.hintfile_checksums", Conf) of
-      strict -> true;
-      allow_missing -> false;
-      _ -> true
+     strict -> true;
+     allow_missing -> false;
+     _ -> true
    end
  end}.
 
@@ -431,13 +315,6 @@
   {default, 0}
 ]}.
 
-%% @see bitcask.expiry.grace_time
-{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.expiry.grace_time", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
-  {datatype, {duration, s}},
-  hidden,
-  {default, 0}
-]}.
-
 %% @doc Configure how Bitcask writes data to disk.
 %%   erlang: Erlang's built-in file API
 %%      nif: Direct calls to the POSIX C API
@@ -450,10 +327,3 @@
   {default, erlang},
   {datatype, {enum, [erlang, nif]}}
 ]}.
-
-%% @see bitcask.io_mode
-{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.io_mode", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
-  {default, erlang},
-  {datatype, {enum, [erlang, nif]}},
-  hidden
-]}.
diff --git a/priv/bitcask_multi.schema b/priv/bitcask_multi.schema
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..64bda74a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/priv/bitcask_multi.schema
@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+%% -*- erlang -*-
+
+%%%% bitcask multi
+
+%% @see bitcask.data_root
+{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.data_root", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
+  hidden,
+  {datatype, directory}
+]}.
+
+%% @see bitcask.open_timeout
+{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.open_timeout", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
+  {default, "4s"},
+  {datatype, {duration, s}},
+  hidden
+]}.
+
+%% @see bitcask.sync.strategy
+{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.sync.strategy", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
+  {default, none},
+  {datatype, {enum, [none, o_sync, interval]}},
+  hidden
+]}.
+
+%% @see bitcask.sync.strategy
+{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.sync.interval", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
+  {datatype, {duration, s}},
+  hidden
+]}.
+
+%% @see bitcask.max_file_size
+{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.max_file_size", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
+  {default, "2GB"},
+  {datatype, bytesize},
+  hidden
+]}.
+
+%% @see bitcask.merge.policy
+{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.merge.policy", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
+  {default, always},
+  {datatype, {enum, [always, never, window]}},
+  hidden
+]}.
+
+%% @see bitcask.merge.policy
+{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.merge.window.start", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
+  {default, 0},
+  {datatype, integer},
+  hidden
+]}.
+
+%% @see bitcask.merge.policy
+{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.merge.window.end", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
+  {default, 23},
+  {datatype, integer},
+  hidden
+]}.
+
+%% @see bitcask.merge.triggers.fragmentation
+{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.merge.triggers.fragmentation", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
+  {datatype, integer},
+  hidden,
+  {default, 60},
+  {validators, ["is_percentage"]}
+]}.
+
+%% @see bitcask.merge.triggers.dead_bytes
+{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.merge.triggers.dead_bytes", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
+  {datatype, bytesize},
+  hidden,
+  {default, "512MB"}
+]}.
+
+
+%% @see bitcask.merge.thresholds.fragmentation
+{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.merge.thresholds.fragmentation", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
+  {datatype, integer},
+  hidden,
+  {default, 40},
+  {validators, ["is_percentage"]}
+]}.
+
+%% @see bitcask.merge.thresholds.dead_bytes
+{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.merge.thresholds.dead_bytes", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
+  {datatype, bytesize},
+  hidden,
+  {default, "128MB"}
+]}.
+
+%% @see bitcask.merge.thresholds.small_file
+{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.merge.thresholds.small_file", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
+  {datatype, bytesize},
+  hidden,
+  {default, "10MB"}
+]}.
+
+%% @see bitcask.fold.max_age
+{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.fold.max_age", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
+  {datatype, [{atom, unlimited}, {duration, ms}]},
+  hidden,
+  {default, unlimited}
+]}.
+
+%% @see bitcask.fold.max_age
+{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.fold.max_puts", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
+  {datatype, [integer, {atom, unlimited}]},
+  hidden,
+  {default, 0}
+]}.
+
+%% @see bitcask.expiry
+{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.expiry", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
+  {datatype, [{atom, off}, {duration, s}]},
+  hidden,
+  {default, off}
+]}.
+
+%% @see bitcask.hintfile_checksums
+{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.hintfile_checksums", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
+  {default, strict},
+  {datatype, {enum, [strict, allow_missing]}},
+  hidden
+]}.
+
+%% @see bitcask.expiry.grace_time
+{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.expiry.grace_time", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
+  {datatype, {duration, s}},
+  hidden,
+  {default, 0}
+]}.
+
+%% @see bitcask.io_mode
+{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.bitcask.io_mode", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
+  {default, erlang},
+  {datatype, {enum, [erlang, nif]}},
+  hidden
+]}.
diff --git a/test/bitcask_schema_tests.erl b/test/bitcask_schema_tests.erl
index be5399c7..426b4a1b 100644
--- a/test/bitcask_schema_tests.erl
+++ b/test/bitcask_schema_tests.erl
@@ -113,10 +113,45 @@ override_schema_test() ->
     cuttlefish_unit:assert_not_configured(Config, "riak_kv.multi_backend"),
     ok.
 
-%% this context() represents the substitution variables that rebar will use during the build process.
-%% riak_core's schema file is written with some {{mustache_vars}} for substitution during packaging
-%% cuttlefish doesn't have a great time parsing those, so we perform the substitutions first, because
-%% that's how it would work in real life.
+multi_backend_test() ->
+    Conf = [
+            {["multi_backend", "default", "storage_backend"], bitcask},
+            {["multi_backend", "default", "bitcask", "data_root"], "/data/default_bitcask"}
+           ],
+    %% The defaults are defined in ../priv/bitcask.schema. it is the file under test.
+    Config = cuttlefish_unit:generate_templated_config(
+               ["../priv/bitcask.schema", "../priv/bitcask_multi.schema", "../test/multi_backend.schema"],
+               Conf, context(), predefined_schema()),
+    %%io:format("Config: ~p~n", []),
+
+    MultiBackendConfig = proplists:get_value(multi_backend, proplists:get_value(riak_kv, Config)),
+
+    {<<"default">>, riak_kv_bitcask_backend, DefaultBackend} = lists:keyfind(<<"default">>, 1, MultiBackendConfig),
+
+    cuttlefish_unit:assert_config(DefaultBackend, "data_root", "/data/default_bitcask"),
+    cuttlefish_unit:assert_config(DefaultBackend, "open_timeout", 4),
+    cuttlefish_unit:assert_config(DefaultBackend, "sync_strategy", none),
+    cuttlefish_unit:assert_config(DefaultBackend, "max_file_size", 2147483648),
+    cuttlefish_unit:assert_config(DefaultBackend, "merge_window", always),
+    cuttlefish_unit:assert_config(DefaultBackend, "frag_merge_trigger", 60),
+    cuttlefish_unit:assert_config(DefaultBackend, "dead_bytes_merge_trigger", 536870912),
+    cuttlefish_unit:assert_config(DefaultBackend, "frag_threshold", 40),
+    cuttlefish_unit:assert_config(DefaultBackend, "dead_bytes_threshold", 134217728),
+    cuttlefish_unit:assert_config(DefaultBackend, "small_file_threshold", 10485760),
+    cuttlefish_unit:assert_config(DefaultBackend, "max_fold_age", -1),
+    cuttlefish_unit:assert_config(DefaultBackend, "max_fold_puts", 0),
+    cuttlefish_unit:assert_config(DefaultBackend, "expiry_secs", -1),
+    cuttlefish_unit:assert_config(DefaultBackend, "require_hint_crc", true),
+    cuttlefish_unit:assert_config(DefaultBackend, "expiry_grace_time", 0),
+    cuttlefish_unit:assert_config(DefaultBackend, "io_mode", erlang),
+    ok.
+
+%% this context() represents the substitution variables that rebar
+%% will use during the build process.  riak_core's schema file is
+%% written with some {{mustache_vars}} for substitution during
+%% packaging cuttlefish doesn't have a great time parsing those, so we
+%% perform the substitutions first, because that's how it would work
+%% in real life.
 context() -> [].
 
 %% This predefined schema covers riak_kv's dependency on
diff --git a/test/multi_backend.schema b/test/multi_backend.schema
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..04257c9d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/multi_backend.schema
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+%% -*- erlang -*-
+
+%% Yo, this is just a test backend for bitcask's multi_backend schema. It's not real
+%% If you really care about multi_backend, have a look at riak_kv/priv/multi_backend.schema
+
+%% @doc Storage_backend specifies the Erlang module defining the storage
+%% mechanism that will be used on this node.
+{mapping, "multi_backend.$name.storage_backend", "riak_kv.multi_backend", [
+  {default, bitcask},
+  {datatype, {enum, [bitcask, leveldb, memory]}},
+  hidden
+]}.
+
+{translation, "riak_kv.multi_backend",
+ fun(Conf, Schema) ->
+  %% group by $name into list, also cut the "multi_backend.$name" off every key
+  BackendNames = cuttlefish_variable:fuzzy_matches(["multi_backend","$name","storage_backend"], Conf),
+  %% for each in list, case statement on backend type
+  Backends = [ begin
+    BackendConfigName = ["multi_backend", Name],
+    {BackendModule, BackendConfig} = case cuttlefish:conf_get(BackendConfigName ++ ["storage_backend"], Conf) of
+      bitcask ->
+        BackendConfigPrefix = BackendConfigName ++ ["bitcask"],
+        SubConf = [ begin
+          {Key -- BackendConfigName, Value}
+        end || {Key, Value} <- cuttlefish_variable:filter_by_prefix(BackendConfigPrefix, Conf)],
+
+        case cuttlefish_generator:map(Schema, SubConf) of
+            BackendProplist ->
+                {riak_kv_bitcask_backend, proplists:get_value(bitcask, BackendProplist)}
+        end
+    end,
+    {list_to_binary(Name),  BackendModule, BackendConfig}
+  end || {"$name", Name} <- BackendNames],
+  case Backends of
+      [] -> throw(unset);
+      _ -> Backends
+  end
+ end}.