diff --git a/dap/worker.py b/dap/worker.py
index 84fa595..4b158df 100644
--- a/dap/worker.py
+++ b/dap/worker.py
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@ from zmqsocks import ZMQSocketsWorker
 def main():
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
 
-    parser.add_argument("--backend_address", default=None)
+    parser.add_argument("--backend_host", required=True, default=None)
+    parser.add_argument("--backend_port", required=True, default=None)
     parser.add_argument("--accumulator_host", default="localhost")
     parser.add_argument("--accumulator_port", default=13002, type=int)
     parser.add_argument("--visualisation_host", default="localhost")
@@ -23,11 +24,9 @@ def main():
 
     clargs = parser.parse_args()
 
-    if not clargs.backend_address:
-        raise SystemExit("please provide a backend address")
-
     work(
-        clargs.backend_address,
+        clargs.backend_host,
+        clargs.backend_port,
         clargs.accumulator_host,
         clargs.accumulator_port,
         clargs.visualisation_host,
@@ -38,12 +37,12 @@ def main():
 
 
 
-def work(backend_address, accumulator_host, accumulator_port, visualisation_host, visualisation_port, fn_peakfinder_parameters, skip_frames_rate):
+def work(backend_host, backend_port, accumulator_host, accumulator_port, visualisation_host, visualisation_port, fn_peakfinder_parameters, skip_frames_rate):
     bj_peakfinder_parameters = BufferedJSON(fn_peakfinder_parameters)
 
     jfdata = JFData()
 
-    zmq_socks = ZMQSocketsWorker(backend_address, accumulator_host, accumulator_port, visualisation_host, visualisation_port)
+    zmq_socks = ZMQSocketsWorker(backend_host, backend_port, accumulator_host, accumulator_port, visualisation_host, visualisation_port)
 
     aggregator = Aggregator()
 
diff --git a/dap/zmqsocks.py b/dap/zmqsocks.py
index 13ad67c..cd0d345 100644
--- a/dap/zmqsocks.py
+++ b/dap/zmqsocks.py
@@ -29,13 +29,13 @@ class ZMQSocketsAccumulator:
 
 class ZMQSocketsWorker:
 
-    def __init__(self, backend_address, accumulator_host, accumulator_port, visualisation_host, visualisation_port):
+    def __init__(self, backend_host, backend_port, accumulator_host, accumulator_port, visualisation_host, visualisation_port):
         zmq_context = zmq.Context(io_threads=4)
         self.poller = poller = zmq.Poller()
 
         # receive from backend:
         self.backend_socket = backend_socket = zmq_context.socket(zmq.PULL)
-        backend_socket.connect(backend_address)
+        backend_socket.connect(f"tcp://{backend_host}:{backend_port}")
 
         poller.register(backend_socket, zmq.POLLIN)