diff --git a/cr8/engine.py b/cr8/engine.py
index b78bdb7..69e2ba8 100644
--- a/cr8/engine.py
+++ b/cr8/engine.py
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ def _generate_statements(stmt, args, iterations, duration):
 
 
 class Runner:
-    def __init__(self, hosts, concurrency, sample_mode, session_settings):
+    def __init__(self, hosts, concurrency, sample_mode, session_settings=None):
         self.concurrency = concurrency
         self.client = client(hosts, session_settings=session_settings, concurrency=concurrency)
         self.sampler = get_sampler(sample_mode)
diff --git a/cr8/run_spec.py b/cr8/run_spec.py
index 99d9efa..521494c 100644
--- a/cr8/run_spec.py
+++ b/cr8/run_spec.py
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ def __init__(self,
                  session_settings):
         self.benchmark_hosts = benchmark_hosts
         self.sample_mode = sample_mode
+        self.session_settings = session_settings
         self.spec_dir = spec_dir
         self.client = clients.client(benchmark_hosts, session_settings)
         self.result_client = clients.client(result_hosts, session_settings)
@@ -180,7 +181,7 @@ def _skip_message(self, min_version, stmt):
             server_version='.'.join((str(x) for x in self.server_version)))
         return msg
 
-    def run_queries(self, queries: Iterable[dict], meta=None, session_settings=None):
+    def run_queries(self, queries: Iterable[dict], meta=None):
         for query in queries:
             stmt = query['statement']
             iterations = query.get('iterations', 1)
@@ -205,7 +206,7 @@ def run_queries(self, queries: Iterable[dict], meta=None, session_settings=None)
                  f'   Concurrency: {concurrency}\n'
                  f'   {mode_desc}: {duration or iterations}')
             )
-            with Runner(self.benchmark_hosts, concurrency, self.sample_mode, session_settings) as runner:
+            with Runner(self.benchmark_hosts, concurrency, self.sample_mode, self.session_settings) as runner:
                 if warmup > 0:
                     runner.warmup(stmt, warmup, concurrency, args)
                 timed_stats = runner.run(
@@ -269,7 +270,7 @@ def do_run_spec(spec,
                     queries = (q for q in spec.queries if 'name' in q and rex.match(q['name']))
                 else:
                     queries = spec.queries
-                executor.run_queries(queries, spec.meta, spec.session_settings)
+                executor.run_queries(queries, spec.meta)
         finally:
             if not action or 'teardown' in action:
                 log.info('# Running tearDown')