diff --git a/pkg/ring/lifecycler.go b/pkg/ring/lifecycler.go
index e75abdef41..914e1f0853 100644
--- a/pkg/ring/lifecycler.go
+++ b/pkg/ring/lifecycler.go
@@ -68,6 +68,12 @@ func (cfg *LifecyclerConfig) RegisterFlags(f *flag.FlagSet) {
 func (cfg *LifecyclerConfig) RegisterFlagsWithPrefix(prefix string, f *flag.FlagSet) {
 	cfg.RingConfig.RegisterFlagsWithPrefix(prefix, f)
 
+	// In order to keep backwards compatibility all of these need to be prefixed
+	// with "ingester."
+	if prefix == "" {
+		prefix = "ingester."
+	}
+
 	f.IntVar(&cfg.NumTokens, prefix+"num-tokens", 128, "Number of tokens for each ingester.")
 	f.DurationVar(&cfg.HeartbeatPeriod, prefix+"heartbeat-period", 5*time.Second, "Period at which to heartbeat to consul.")
 	f.DurationVar(&cfg.JoinAfter, prefix+"join-after", 0*time.Second, "Period to wait for a claim from another member; will join automatically after this.")