diff --git a/physical/raft/fsm.go b/physical/raft/fsm.go
index 52fd05d4c3bb..dc924ea5c158 100644
--- a/physical/raft/fsm.go
+++ b/physical/raft/fsm.go
@@ -86,11 +86,7 @@ type FSM struct {
 }
 
 // NewFSM constructs a FSM using the given directory
-func NewFSM(conf map[string]string, logger log.Logger) (*FSM, error) {
-	path, ok := conf["path"]
-	if !ok {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("'path' must be set")
-	}
+func NewFSM(path string, logger log.Logger) (*FSM, error) {
 
 	// Initialize the latest term, index, and config values
 	latestTerm := new(uint64)
@@ -101,7 +97,7 @@ func NewFSM(conf map[string]string, logger log.Logger) (*FSM, error) {
 	latestConfig.Store((*ConfigurationValue)(nil))
 
 	f := &FSM{
-		path:   conf["path"],
+		path:   path,
 		logger: logger,
 
 		latestTerm:   latestTerm,
diff --git a/physical/raft/fsm_test.go b/physical/raft/fsm_test.go
index 7caeeb41c6e4..2603f3690046 100644
--- a/physical/raft/fsm_test.go
+++ b/physical/raft/fsm_test.go
@@ -25,9 +25,7 @@ func getFSM(t testing.TB) (*FSM, string) {
 		Level: hclog.Trace,
 	})
 
-	fsm, err := NewFSM(map[string]string{
-		"path": raftDir,
-	}, logger)
+	fsm, err := NewFSM(raftDir, logger)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
diff --git a/physical/raft/raft.go b/physical/raft/raft.go
index e1120b5ba4f9..a3277c79abe0 100644
--- a/physical/raft/raft.go
+++ b/physical/raft/raft.go
@@ -219,11 +219,6 @@ func EnsurePath(path string, dir bool) error {
 
 // NewRaftBackend constructs a RaftBackend using the given directory
 func NewRaftBackend(conf map[string]string, logger log.Logger) (physical.Backend, error) {
-	// Create the FSM.
-	fsm, err := NewFSM(conf, logger.Named("fsm"))
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to create fsm: %v", err)
-	}
 
 	path := os.Getenv(EnvVaultRaftPath)
 	if path == "" {
@@ -234,6 +229,12 @@ func NewRaftBackend(conf map[string]string, logger log.Logger) (physical.Backend
 		path = pathFromConfig
 	}
 
+	// Create the FSM.
+	fsm, err := NewFSM(path, logger.Named("fsm"))
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to create fsm: %v", err)
+	}
+
 	// Build an all in-memory setup for dev mode, otherwise prepare a full
 	// disk-based setup.
 	var log raft.LogStore
diff --git a/physical/raft/snapshot_test.go b/physical/raft/snapshot_test.go
index 4588999c5c56..3186ded443ca 100644
--- a/physical/raft/snapshot_test.go
+++ b/physical/raft/snapshot_test.go
@@ -590,9 +590,7 @@ func TestBoltSnapshotStore_Listing(t *testing.T) {
 		Level: hclog.Trace,
 	})
 
-	fsm, err := NewFSM(map[string]string{
-		"path": parent,
-	}, logger)
+	fsm, err := NewFSM(parent, logger)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -657,9 +655,7 @@ func TestBoltSnapshotStore_CreateInstallSnapshot(t *testing.T) {
 		Level: hclog.Trace,
 	})
 
-	fsm, err := NewFSM(map[string]string{
-		"path": parent,
-	}, logger)
+	fsm, err := NewFSM(parent, logger)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -757,9 +753,7 @@ func TestBoltSnapshotStore_CreateInstallSnapshot(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal("expected snapshot installer object")
 	}
 
-	newFSM, err := NewFSM(map[string]string{
-		"path": filepath.Dir(installer.Filename()),
-	}, logger)
+	newFSM, err := NewFSM(filepath.Dir(installer.Filename()), logger)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -818,9 +812,7 @@ func TestBoltSnapshotStore_CreateInstallSnapshot(t *testing.T) {
 
 		// Close/Reopen the db and make sure we still match
 		fsm.Close()
-		fsm, err = NewFSM(map[string]string{
-			"path": parent,
-		}, logger)
+		fsm, err = NewFSM(parent, logger)
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}