diff --git a/oslo_messaging/notify/notifier.py b/oslo_messaging/notify/notifier.py
index fb841644f..cc4f2eb8f 100644
--- a/oslo_messaging/notify/notifier.py
+++ b/oslo_messaging/notify/notifier.py
@@ -90,9 +90,9 @@ class Driver(object):
 
 def get_notification_transport(conf, url=None,
                                allowed_remote_exmods=None, aliases=None):
+    conf.register_opts(_notifier_opts,
+                       group='oslo_messaging_notifications')
     if url is None:
-        conf.register_opts(_notifier_opts,
-                           group='oslo_messaging_notifications')
         url = conf.oslo_messaging_notifications.transport_url
     return msg_transport.get_transport(conf, url,
                                        allowed_remote_exmods, aliases)
diff --git a/tools/simulator.py b/tools/simulator.py
index 3c587d5a0..03afe0884 100755
--- a/tools/simulator.py
+++ b/tools/simulator.py
@@ -281,16 +281,20 @@ def main():
 
     _setup_logging(is_debug=args.debug)
 
+    if args.mode in ['rpc-server', 'rpc-client']:
+        transport = messaging.get_transport(cfg.CONF, url=args.url)
+    else:
+        transport = messaging.get_notification_transport(cfg.CONF,
+                                                         url=args.url)
+        cfg.CONF.oslo_messaging_notifications.topics = "notif"
+        cfg.CONF.oslo_messaging_notifications.driver = "messaging"
+    target = messaging.Target(topic=args.topic, server='profiler_server')
+
     # oslo.config defaults
     cfg.CONF.heartbeat_interval = 5
-    cfg.CONF.oslo_messaging_notifications.topics = "notif"
-    cfg.CONF.oslo_messaging_notifications.driver = "messaging"
     cfg.CONF.prog = os.path.basename(__file__)
     cfg.CONF.project = 'oslo.messaging'
 
-    transport = messaging.get_transport(cfg.CONF, url=args.url)
-    target = messaging.Target(topic=args.topic, server='profiler_server')
-
     if args.mode == 'rpc-server':
         if args.url.startswith('zmq'):
             cfg.CONF.rpc_zmq_matchmaker = "redis"