diff --git a/command/meta_backend.go b/command/meta_backend.go
index 4eb79ed5c5..894ba8efa0 100644
--- a/command/meta_backend.go
+++ b/command/meta_backend.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/hashicorp/go-multierror"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/hcl"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/terraform/backend"
+	backendinit "github.com/hashicorp/terraform/backend/init"
 	clistate "github.com/hashicorp/terraform/command/state"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/terraform/config"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/terraform/state"
@@ -24,8 +25,6 @@ import (
 
 	backendlegacy "github.com/hashicorp/terraform/backend/legacy"
 	backendlocal "github.com/hashicorp/terraform/backend/local"
-	backendconsul "github.com/hashicorp/terraform/backend/remote-state/consul"
-	backendinmem "github.com/hashicorp/terraform/backend/remote-state/inmem"
 )
 
 // BackendOpts are the options used to initialize a backend.Backend.
@@ -1149,8 +1148,8 @@ func (m *Meta) backend_C_r_S_unchanged(
 	config := terraform.NewResourceConfig(rawC)
 
 	// Get the backend
-	f, ok := Backends[s.Backend.Type]
-	if !ok {
+	f := backendinit.Backend(s.Backend.Type)
+	if f == nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf(strings.TrimSpace(errBackendSavedUnknown), s.Backend.Type)
 	}
 	b := f()
@@ -1300,8 +1299,8 @@ func (m *Meta) backendInitFromConfig(c *config.Backend) (backend.Backend, error)
 	config := terraform.NewResourceConfig(c.RawConfig)
 
 	// Get the backend
-	f, ok := Backends[c.Type]
-	if !ok {
+	f := backendinit.Backend(c.Type)
+	if f == nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf(strings.TrimSpace(errBackendNewUnknown), c.Type)
 	}
 	b := f()
@@ -1374,8 +1373,8 @@ func (m *Meta) backendInitFromSaved(s *terraform.BackendState) (backend.Backend,
 	config := terraform.NewResourceConfig(rawC)
 
 	// Get the backend
-	f, ok := Backends[s.Type]
-	if !ok {
+	f := backendinit.Backend(s.Type)
+	if f == nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf(strings.TrimSpace(errBackendSavedUnknown), s.Type)
 	}
 	b := f()
@@ -1397,27 +1396,6 @@ func (m *Meta) backendInitRequired(reason string) {
 // Output constants and initialization code
 //-------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-// Backends is the list of available backends. This is currently a hardcoded
-// list that can't be modified without recompiling Terraform. This is done
-// because the API for backends uses complex structures and supporting that
-// over the plugin system is currently prohibitively difficult. For those
-// wanting to implement a custom backend, recompilation should not be a
-// high barrier.
-var Backends map[string]func() backend.Backend
-
-func init() {
-	// Our hardcoded backends
-	Backends = map[string]func() backend.Backend{
-		"local":  func() backend.Backend { return &backendlocal.Local{} },
-		"consul": func() backend.Backend { return backendconsul.New() },
-		"inmem":  func() backend.Backend { return backendinmem.New() },
-	}
-
-	// Add the legacy remote backends that haven't yet been convertd to
-	// the new backend API.
-	backendlegacy.Init(Backends)
-}
-
 // errBackendInitRequired is the final error message shown when reinit
 // is required for some reason. The error message includes the reason.
 var errBackendInitRequired = errors.New(