diff --git a/consul/client.go b/consul/client.go
index 5935dd8668..adbab9e258 100644
--- a/consul/client.go
+++ b/consul/client.go
@@ -90,8 +90,10 @@ func NewClient(config *Config) (*Client, error) {
 
 // setupSerf is used to setup and initialize a Serf
 func (c *Client) setupSerf(conf *serf.Config, ch chan serf.Event, path string) (*serf.Serf, error) {
+	conf.Init()
 	conf.NodeName = c.config.NodeName
-	conf.Role = fmt.Sprintf("node:%s", c.config.Datacenter)
+	conf.Tags["role"] = "node"
+	conf.Tags["dc"] = c.config.Datacenter
 	conf.MemberlistConfig.LogOutput = c.config.LogOutput
 	conf.LogOutput = c.config.LogOutput
 	conf.EventCh = ch
diff --git a/consul/leader.go b/consul/leader.go
index d6f79e4fdd..6174e40c71 100644
--- a/consul/leader.go
+++ b/consul/leader.go
@@ -270,11 +270,11 @@ func (s *Server) joinConsulServer(m serf.Member, parts *serverParts) error {
 	}
 
 	// Check for possibility of multiple bootstrap nodes
-	if parts.HasFlag(bootstrapFlag) {
+	if parts.Bootstrap {
 		members := s.serfLAN.Members()
 		for _, member := range members {
 			valid, p := isConsulServer(member)
-			if valid && member.Name != m.Name && p.HasFlag(bootstrapFlag) {
+			if valid && member.Name != m.Name && p.Bootstrap {
 				s.logger.Printf("[ERR] consul: '%v' and '%v' are both in bootstrap mode. Only one node should be in bootstrap mode, not adding Raft peer.", m.Name, member.Name)
 				return nil
 			}
diff --git a/consul/server.go b/consul/server.go
index 131a372791..cc18b02ae6 100644
--- a/consul/server.go
+++ b/consul/server.go
@@ -162,12 +162,14 @@ func NewServer(config *Config) (*Server, error) {
 // setupSerf is used to setup and initialize a Serf
 func (s *Server) setupSerf(conf *serf.Config, ch chan serf.Event, path string) (*serf.Serf, error) {
 	addr := s.rpcListener.Addr().(*net.TCPAddr)
-	flags := ""
-	if s.config.Bootstrap {
-		flags = bootstrapFlag
-	}
+	conf.Init()
 	conf.NodeName = s.config.NodeName
-	conf.Role = fmt.Sprintf("consul:%s:%d:%s", s.config.Datacenter, addr.Port, flags)
+	conf.Tags["role"] = "consul"
+	conf.Tags["dc"] = s.config.Datacenter
+	conf.Tags["port"] = fmt.Sprintf("%d", addr.Port)
+	if s.config.Bootstrap {
+		conf.Tags["bootstrap"] = "1"
+	}
 	conf.MemberlistConfig.LogOutput = s.config.LogOutput
 	conf.LogOutput = s.config.LogOutput
 	conf.EventCh = ch
diff --git a/consul/server_test.go b/consul/server_test.go
index 03d03304b6..f73ec6f2ee 100644
--- a/consul/server_test.go
+++ b/consul/server_test.go
@@ -173,7 +173,8 @@ func TestServer_Leave(t *testing.T) {
 	defer os.RemoveAll(dir1)
 	defer s1.Shutdown()
 
-	dir2, s2 := testServer(t)
+	// Second server not in bootstrap mode
+	dir2, s2 := testServerDCBootstrap(t, "dc1", false)
 	defer os.RemoveAll(dir2)
 	defer s2.Shutdown()
 
diff --git a/consul/util.go b/consul/util.go
index 6bd119ad7a..ffca9961cb 100644
--- a/consul/util.go
+++ b/consul/util.go
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strconv"
-	"strings"
 )
 
 /*
@@ -23,12 +22,7 @@ var privateBlocks []*net.IPNet
 type serverParts struct {
 	Datacenter string
 	Port       int
-	Flags      string
-}
-
-// HasFlag is used to check if a flag is present
-func (s *serverParts) HasFlag(flag string) bool {
-	return strings.Contains(s.Flags, flag)
+	Bootstrap  bool
 }
 
 func init() {
@@ -74,34 +68,28 @@ func ensurePath(path string, dir bool) error {
 // Returns if a member is a consul server. Returns a bool,
 // the data center, and the rpc port
 func isConsulServer(m serf.Member) (bool, *serverParts) {
-	role := m.Role
-	if !strings.HasPrefix(role, "consul:") {
+	if m.Tags["role"] != "consul" {
 		return false, nil
 	}
 
-	parts := strings.SplitN(role, ":", 4)
-	datacenter := parts[1]
-	port_str := parts[2]
-	flags := parts[3]
+	datacenter := m.Tags["dc"]
+	port_str := m.Tags["port"]
+	_, bootstrap := m.Tags["bootstrap"]
 	port, err := strconv.Atoi(port_str)
 	if err != nil {
 		return false, nil
 	}
 
-	return true, &serverParts{datacenter, port, flags}
+	return true, &serverParts{datacenter, port, bootstrap}
 }
 
 // Returns if a member is a consul node. Returns a boo,
 // and the data center.
 func isConsulNode(m serf.Member) (bool, string) {
-	role := m.Role
-	if !strings.HasPrefix(role, "node:") {
+	if m.Tags["role"] != "node" {
 		return false, ""
 	}
-
-	parts := strings.SplitN(role, ":", 2)
-	datacenter := parts[1]
-	return true, datacenter
+	return true, m.Tags["dc"]
 }
 
 // Returns if the given IP is in a private block
diff --git a/consul/util_test.go b/consul/util_test.go
index 9117684b17..edd73fdf69 100644
--- a/consul/util_test.go
+++ b/consul/util_test.go
@@ -35,17 +35,32 @@ func TestIsPrivateIP(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestIsConsulServer(t *testing.T) {
 	m := serf.Member{
-		Role: "consul:east-aws:10000",
+		Tags: map[string]string{
+			"role": "consul",
+			"dc":   "east-aws",
+			"port": "10000",
+		},
 	}
 	valid, parts := isConsulServer(m)
 	if !valid || parts.Datacenter != "east-aws" || parts.Port != 10000 {
 		t.Fatalf("bad: %v %v", valid, parts)
 	}
+	if parts.Bootstrap {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected bootstrap")
+	}
+	m.Tags["bootstrap"] = "1"
+	valid, parts = isConsulServer(m)
+	if !valid || !parts.Bootstrap {
+		t.Fatalf("expected bootstrap")
+	}
 }
 
 func TestIsConsulNode(t *testing.T) {
 	m := serf.Member{
-		Role: "node:east-aws",
+		Tags: map[string]string{
+			"role": "node",
+			"dc":   "east-aws",
+		},
 	}
 	valid, dc := isConsulNode(m)
 	if !valid || dc != "east-aws" {