diff --git a/command/agent/agent.go b/command/agent/agent.go
index 2ddbba7e8..b5526e32a 100644
--- a/command/agent/agent.go
+++ b/command/agent/agent.go
@@ -66,15 +66,14 @@ func NewAgent(config *Config, logOutput io.Writer) (*Agent, error) {
 		logOutput = os.Stderr
 	}
 
-	shutdownCh := make(chan struct{})
 	a := &Agent{
 		config:     config,
 		logger:     log.New(logOutput, "", log.LstdFlags),
 		logOutput:  logOutput,
-		shutdownCh: shutdownCh,
+		shutdownCh: make(chan struct{}),
 	}
 
-	if err := a.setupConsulSyncer(shutdownCh); err != nil {
+	if err := a.setupConsulSyncer(); err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Failed to initialize Consul syncer task: %v", err)
 	}
 	if err := a.setupServer(); err != nil {
@@ -656,9 +655,9 @@ func (a *Agent) Stats() map[string]map[string]string {
 
 // setupConsulSyncer creates the Consul tasks used by this Nomad Agent
 // (either Client or Server mode).
-func (a *Agent) setupConsulSyncer(shutdownCh chan struct{}) error {
+func (a *Agent) setupConsulSyncer() error {
 	var err error
-	a.consulSyncer, err = consul.NewSyncer(a.config.Consul, shutdownCh, a.logger)
+	a.consulSyncer, err = consul.NewSyncer(a.config.Consul, a.shutdownCh, a.logger)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}