diff --git a/backplane-dns.lisp b/backplane-dns.lisp
index b29ee97..c62a08a 100644
--- a/backplane-dns.lisp
+++ b/backplane-dns.lisp
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@
   (let ((postmodern:*ignore-unknown-columns* t)
         (cl-postgres:*query-log* *standard-output*)
         (*dns-store* (make-instance 'backplane-dns-store:postgres-dns-store)))
-    (postmodern:with-connection (list db-name db-username db-password db-host (port db-port) (use-ssl db-use-ssl))
+    (postmodern:with-connection (list db-name db-username db-password db-host `(port ,db-port) `(use-ssl ,db-use-ssl))
       (with-backplane (backplane (backplane-connect xmpp-host xmpp-username xmpp-password))
         (start-listening backplane)))))