diff --git a/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/NodeMembershipSpec.scala b/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/NodeMembershipSpec.scala
index 22c76cae67..de734088f1 100644
--- a/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/NodeMembershipSpec.scala
+++ b/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/NodeMembershipSpec.scala
@@ -19,16 +19,9 @@ object NodeMembershipMultiJvmSpec extends MultiNodeConfig {
       gossip-frequency = 200 ms
       leader-actions-frequency = 200 ms
       periodic-tasks-initial-delay = 300 ms
-      # FIXME get rid of this hardcoded host:port
-      node-to-join = "akka://MultiNodeSpec@localhost:2602"
     }
     """)))
 
-  nodeConfig(first, ConfigFactory.parseString("""
-    # FIXME get rid of this hardcoded port
-    akka.remote.netty.port=2602
-    """))
-
 }
 
 class NodeMembershipMultiJvmNode1 extends NodeMembershipSpec
@@ -55,6 +48,7 @@ abstract class NodeMembershipSpec extends MultiNodeSpec(NodeMembershipMultiJvmSp
     "(when two systems) start gossiping to each other so that both systems gets the same gossip info" in {
 
       runOn(first, second) {
+        node().join(firstAddress)
         awaitCond(node().latestGossip.members.size == 2)
         val members = node().latestGossip.members.toIndexedSeq
         members.size must be(2)
@@ -70,6 +64,10 @@ abstract class NodeMembershipSpec extends MultiNodeSpec(NodeMembershipMultiJvmSp
 
     "(when three systems) start gossiping to each other so that both systems gets the same gossip info" in {
 
+      runOn(third) {
+        node().join(firstAddress)
+      }
+
       // runOn all
       awaitCond(node().latestGossip.members.size == 3)
       val members = node().latestGossip.members.toIndexedSeq
diff --git a/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/NodeStartupSpec.scala b/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/NodeStartupSpec.scala
index 5f79d85ecb..8bb76fb613 100644
--- a/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/NodeStartupSpec.scala
+++ b/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/NodeStartupSpec.scala
@@ -21,16 +21,6 @@ object NodeStartupMultiJvmSpec extends MultiNodeConfig {
     }
     """)))
 
-  nodeConfig(first, ConfigFactory.parseString("""
-    # FIXME get rid of this hardcoded port
-    akka.remote.netty.port=2601
-    """))
-
-  nodeConfig(second, ConfigFactory.parseString("""
-    # FIXME get rid of this hardcoded host:port
-    akka.cluster.node-to-join = "akka://MultiNodeSpec@localhost:2601"
-    """))
-
 }
 
 class NodeStartupMultiJvmNode1 extends NodeStartupSpec
@@ -47,6 +37,8 @@ abstract class NodeStartupSpec extends MultiNodeSpec(NodeStartupMultiJvmSpec) wi
     testConductor.enter("after")
   }
 
+  val firstAddress = testConductor.getAddressFor(first).await
+
   "A first cluster node with a 'node-to-join' config set to empty string (singleton cluster)" must {
 
     "be a singleton cluster when started up" in {
@@ -61,7 +53,7 @@ abstract class NodeStartupSpec extends MultiNodeSpec(NodeStartupMultiJvmSpec) wi
       runOn(first) {
         val members = node().latestGossip.members
         members.size must be(1)
-        val firstAddress = testConductor.getAddressFor(first).await
+
         val joiningMember = members find (_.address == firstAddress)
         joiningMember must not be (None)
         joiningMember.get.status must be(MemberStatus.Joining)
@@ -69,9 +61,13 @@ abstract class NodeStartupSpec extends MultiNodeSpec(NodeStartupMultiJvmSpec) wi
     }
   }
 
-  "A second cluster node with a 'node-to-join' config defined" must {
+  "A second cluster node" must {
     "join the other node cluster when sending a Join command" in {
 
+      runOn(second) {
+        node().join(firstAddress)
+      }
+
       // runOn all
       val secondAddress = testConductor.getAddressFor(second).await
       awaitCond {