diff --git a/consul/serf.go b/consul/serf.go
index 8a34cc9b3..c23c10c81 100644
--- a/consul/serf.go
+++ b/consul/serf.go
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ func (s *Server) nodeJoin(me serf.MemberEvent, wan bool) {
 				addrs := make([]net.Addr, 0)
 				for _, member := range members {
 					valid, p := isConsulServer(member)
-					if valid {
+					if valid && p.Datacenter == parts.Datacenter {
 						if p.Expect != parts.Expect {
 							s.logger.Printf("[ERR] consul: '%v' and '%v' have different expect values. All expect nodes should have the same value, will never leave expect mode", m.Name, member.Name)
 							return
diff --git a/consul/server.go b/consul/server.go
index d431ebd1d..d126e2343 100644
--- a/consul/server.go
+++ b/consul/server.go
@@ -234,7 +234,9 @@ func (s *Server) setupSerf(conf *serf.Config, ch chan serf.Event, path string, w
 	if s.config.Bootstrap {
 		conf.Tags["bootstrap"] = "1"
 	}
-	conf.Tags["expect"] = fmt.Sprintf("%d", s.config.Expect)
+	if s.config.Expect != 0 {
+		conf.Tags["expect"] = fmt.Sprintf("%d", s.config.Expect)
+	}
 	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 a00f7f34a..109f5081b 100644
--- a/consul/server_test.go
+++ b/consul/server_test.go
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ func TestServer_Expect(t *testing.T) {
 
 	testutil.WaitForResult(func() (bool, error) {
 		p2, _ = s2.raftPeers.Peers()
-		return len(p2) == 0, errors.New(fmt.Sprintf("%v", p1))
+		return len(p2) == 0, errors.New(fmt.Sprintf("%v", p2))
 	}, func(err error) {
 		t.Fatalf("should have 0 peers: %v", err)
 	})
@@ -375,18 +375,20 @@ func TestServer_Expect(t *testing.T) {
 
 	testutil.WaitForResult(func() (bool, error) {
 		p2, _ = s2.raftPeers.Peers()
-		return len(p2) == 3, errors.New(fmt.Sprintf("%v", p1))
+		return len(p2) == 3, errors.New(fmt.Sprintf("%v", p2))
 	}, func(err error) {
 		t.Fatalf("should have 3 peers: %v", err)
 	})
 
 	testutil.WaitForResult(func() (bool, error) {
 		p3, _ = s3.raftPeers.Peers()
-		return len(p3) == 3, errors.New(fmt.Sprintf("%v", p1))
+		return len(p3) == 3, errors.New(fmt.Sprintf("%v", p3))
 	}, func(err error) {
 		t.Fatalf("should have 3 peers: %v", err)
 	})
 
+	// check if there is one leader now
+	testutil.WaitForLeader(t, s1.RPC, "dc1")
 }
 
 func TestServer_BadExpect(t *testing.T) {
@@ -425,7 +427,7 @@ func TestServer_BadExpect(t *testing.T) {
 
 	testutil.WaitForResult(func() (bool, error) {
 		p2, _ = s2.raftPeers.Peers()
-		return len(p2) == 0, errors.New(fmt.Sprintf("%v", p1))
+		return len(p2) == 0, errors.New(fmt.Sprintf("%v", p2))
 	}, func(err error) {
 		t.Fatalf("should have 0 peers: %v", err)
 	})
@@ -447,14 +449,14 @@ func TestServer_BadExpect(t *testing.T) {
 
 	testutil.WaitForResult(func() (bool, error) {
 		p2, _ = s2.raftPeers.Peers()
-		return len(p2) == 0, errors.New(fmt.Sprintf("%v", p1))
+		return len(p2) == 0, errors.New(fmt.Sprintf("%v", p2))
 	}, func(err error) {
 		t.Fatalf("should have 0 peers: %v", err)
 	})
 
 	testutil.WaitForResult(func() (bool, error) {
 		p3, _ = s3.raftPeers.Peers()
-		return len(p3) == 0, errors.New(fmt.Sprintf("%v", p1))
+		return len(p3) == 0, errors.New(fmt.Sprintf("%v", p3))
 	}, func(err error) {
 		t.Fatalf("should have 0 peers: %v", err)
 	})
diff --git a/consul/util.go b/consul/util.go
index dc5b6ef2a..00815ea10 100644
--- a/consul/util.go
+++ b/consul/util.go
@@ -86,10 +86,14 @@ func isConsulServer(m serf.Member) (bool, *serverParts) {
 	datacenter := m.Tags["dc"]
 	_, bootstrap := m.Tags["bootstrap"]
 
-	expect_str := m.Tags["expect"]
-	expect, err := strconv.Atoi(expect_str)
-	if err != nil {
-		return false, nil
+	expect := 0
+	expect_str, ok := m.Tags["expect"]
+	var err error
+	if ok {
+		expect, err = strconv.Atoi(expect_str)
+		if err != nil {
+			return false, nil
+		}
 	}
 
 	port_str := m.Tags["port"]
diff --git a/consul/util_test.go b/consul/util_test.go
index e360f523c..107146b52 100644
--- a/consul/util_test.go
+++ b/consul/util_test.go
@@ -41,11 +41,10 @@ func TestIsConsulServer(t *testing.T) {
 		Name: "foo",
 		Addr: net.IP([]byte{127, 0, 0, 1}),
 		Tags: map[string]string{
-			"expect": "0",
-			"role":   "consul",
-			"dc":     "east-aws",
-			"port":   "10000",
-			"vsn":    "1",
+			"role": "consul",
+			"dc":   "east-aws",
+			"port": "10000",
+			"vsn":  "1",
 		},
 	}
 	valid, parts := isConsulServer(m)