diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 8e07dced2d3..53c573d7d01 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -4,9 +4,10 @@ This release contains breaking changes.
 
 ### Breaking changes
 
-Several breaking changes are introduced. You will have to slightly change your configuration file and a migration script will take care of updating your database cluster. Please follow the instructions in [UPDATE.md](/UPDATE.md#update-to-kong-050) for an update without downtime.
+Several breaking changes are introduced. You will have to slightly change your configuration file and a migration script will take care of updating your database cluster. **Please follow the instructions in [UPDATE.md](/UPDATE.md#update-to-kong-050) for an update without downtime**.
 
 - Many plugins were renamed due to new naming conventions for consistency. [#480](https://github.com/Mashape/kong/issues/480)
+- In the configuration file, the Cassandra `hosts` property was renamed to `contact_points`. [#513](https://github.com/Mashape/kong/issues/513)
 - `public_dns` and `target_url` properties of APIs were respectively renamed to `inbound_dns` and `upstream_url`. [#513](https://github.com/Mashape/kong/issues/513)
 - `plugins_configurations` have been renamed to `plugins`, and their `value` property has been renamed to `config` to avoid confusions. [#513](https://github.com/Mashape/kong/issues/513)
 - The database schema has been updated to handle the separation of plugins outside of the core repository.
diff --git a/UPDATE.md b/UPDATE.md
index 0892716862e..29c213e2baf 100644
--- a/UPDATE.md
+++ b/UPDATE.md
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ Migrating to 0.5.0 can be done **without downtime** by following those instructi
 
 ##### 1. Configuration file
 
-You will need to update your configuration file. Replace the `plugins_available` property with:
+You will need to update your configuration file. Replace the `plugins_available` values with:
 
 ```yaml
 plugins_available:
@@ -32,6 +32,18 @@ plugins_available:
 
 You can still remove plugins you don't use for a lighter Kong.
 
+Also replace the Cassandra `hosts` property with `contact_points`:
+
+```yaml
+properties:
+  contact_points:
+    - "..."
+    - "..."
+  timeout: 1000
+  keyspace: kong
+  keepalive: 60000
+```
+
 ##### 2. Migration script
 
 [This Python script](/scripts/migration.py) will take care of migrating your database schema should you execute the following instructions:
@@ -48,9 +60,8 @@ $ cd kong/scripts
 # Install the Python script dependencies:
 $ pip install cassandra-driver pyyaml
 
-# The script will use the first Cassandra contact point
-# in your Kong configuration file (the first of the 'hosts' property)
-# so make sure it is valid and has the format 'host:port'.
+# The script will use the first Cassandra contact point in your Kong configuration file
+# (the first of the 'contact_points' property) so make sure it is valid and has the format 'host:port'.
 
 # Run the migration script:
 $ python migration.py -c /path/to/kong/config
@@ -66,8 +77,6 @@ You can now update Kong to 0.5.0. Proceed as a regular update and install the pa
 $ kong reload
 ```
 
-Your cluster should successfully be migrated to Kong `0.5.0`.
-
 ##### 4. Purge your Cassandra cluster
 
 Finally, once Kong has restarted in 0.5.0, run the migration script again, with the `--purge` flag:
@@ -76,7 +85,7 @@ Finally, once Kong has restarted in 0.5.0, run the migration script again, with
 $ python migration.py -c /path/to/kong/config --purge
 ```
 
-Your cluster is now fully migrated to 0.5.0.
+Your cluster is now fully migrated to `0.5.0`.
 
 ##### Other changes to acknowledge
 
diff --git a/kong.yml b/kong.yml
index daabc5cf5ec..2516312a100 100644
--- a/kong.yml
+++ b/kong.yml
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ database: cassandra
 databases_available:
   cassandra:
     properties:
-      hosts:
+      contact_points:
         - "localhost:9042"
       timeout: 1000
       keyspace: kong
diff --git a/kong/dao/cassandra/base_dao.lua b/kong/dao/cassandra/base_dao.lua
index 59bbec6c047..19cf55ba217 100644
--- a/kong/dao/cassandra/base_dao.lua
+++ b/kong/dao/cassandra/base_dao.lua
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ function BaseDao:_open_session(keyspace)
 
   local options = self._factory:get_session_options()
 
-  ok, err = session:connect(self._properties.hosts, nil, options)
+  ok, err = session:connect(self._properties.hosts or self._properties.contact_points, nil, options)
   if not ok then
     return nil, DaoError(err, error_types.DATABASE)
   end
diff --git a/kong/dao/cassandra/factory.lua b/kong/dao/cassandra/factory.lua
index 13cde324507..933c3a00a91 100644
--- a/kong/dao/cassandra/factory.lua
+++ b/kong/dao/cassandra/factory.lua
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ function CassandraFactory:execute_queries(queries, no_keyspace)
 
   local options = self:get_session_options()
 
-  ok, err = session:connect(self._properties.hosts, nil, options)
+  ok, err = session:connect(self._properties.hosts or self._properties.contact_points, nil, options)
   if not ok then
     return DaoError(err, constants.DATABASE_ERROR_TYPES.DATABASE)
   end
diff --git a/scripts/migration.py b/scripts/migration.py
index 5dc8b4349af..96054332a0e 100755
--- a/scripts/migration.py
+++ b/scripts/migration.py
@@ -9,8 +9,8 @@
 
 Arguments:
   -c, --config   path to your Kong configuration file
-  -p, --purge    if already migrated, purge the old values
 Flags:
+  --purge    if already migrated, purge the old values
   -h             print help
 '''
 
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ def load_cassandra_config(kong_config):
     """
     cass_properties = kong_config["databases_available"]["cassandra"]["properties"]
 
-    host, port = cass_properties["hosts"][0].split(":")
+    host, port = cass_properties["contact_points"][0].split(":")
     keyspace = cass_properties["keyspace"]
 
     return (host, port, keyspace)
diff --git a/spec/integration/dao/cassandra/base_dao_spec.lua b/spec/integration/dao/cassandra/base_dao_spec.lua
index 306d48d95de..0a0b3390f0d 100644
--- a/spec/integration/dao/cassandra/base_dao_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/integration/dao/cassandra/base_dao_spec.lua
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ describe("Cassandra", function()
     session = cassandra:new()
     session:set_timeout(configuration.cassandra.timeout)
 
-    local _, err = session:connect(configuration.cassandra.hosts)
+    local _, err = session:connect(configuration.cassandra.contact_points)
     assert.falsy(err)
 
     local _, err = session:set_keyspace("kong_tests")
diff --git a/spec/integration/dao/cassandra/migrations_spec.lua b/spec/integration/dao/cassandra/migrations_spec.lua
index 56fb2002d07..d91278ac8eb 100644
--- a/spec/integration/dao/cassandra/migrations_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/integration/dao/cassandra/migrations_spec.lua
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ describe("Migrations", function()
   local migrations
 
   setup(function()
-    local ok, err = session:connect(test_cassandra_properties.hosts, test_cassandra_properties.port)
+    local ok, err = session:connect(test_cassandra_properties.contact_points, test_cassandra_properties.port)
     if not ok then
       error(err)
     end
diff --git a/spec/integration/proxy/database_cache_spec.lua b/spec/integration/proxy/database_cache_spec.lua
index a9a6e1e0366..95224f13311 100644
--- a/spec/integration/proxy/database_cache_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/integration/proxy/database_cache_spec.lua
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ describe("Database cache", function()
   end)
 
   it("should expire cache after five seconds", function()
-    local _, status = http_client.get(spec_helper.PROXY_URL.."/get", {}, {host = "cache.test"})
+    local _ = http_client.get(spec_helper.PROXY_URL.."/get", {}, {host = "cache.test"})
 
     -- Let's add the authentication plugin configuration
     local _, err = env.dao_factory.plugins:insert {
diff --git a/spec/integration/proxy/realip_spec.lua b/spec/integration/proxy/realip_spec.lua
index 9fb3a8495b2..11ff3eef858 100644
--- a/spec/integration/proxy/realip_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/integration/proxy/realip_spec.lua
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ describe("Real IP", function()
     local uuid = utils.random_string()
 
     -- Making the request
-    local _, status = http_client.get(spec_helper.STUB_GET_URL, nil,
+    local _ = http_client.get(spec_helper.STUB_GET_URL, nil,
       {
         host = "realip.com",
         ["X-Forwarded-For"] = "4.4.4.4, 1.1.1.1, 5.5.5.5",
diff --git a/spec/unit/statics_spec.lua b/spec/unit/statics_spec.lua
index f52e3c85100..b3581fb845f 100644
--- a/spec/unit/statics_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/unit/statics_spec.lua
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ database: cassandra
 databases_available:
   cassandra:
     properties:
-      hosts:
+      contact_points:
         - "localhost:9042"
       timeout: 1000
       keyspace: kong