diff --git a/chihaya.go b/chihaya.go
index e697626..b6b445a 100644
--- a/chihaya.go
+++ b/chihaya.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/chihaya/chihaya/config"
 	"github.com/chihaya/chihaya/http"
+	"github.com/chihaya/chihaya/stats"
 	"github.com/chihaya/chihaya/tracker"
 
 	// See the README for how to import custom drivers.
@@ -70,6 +71,8 @@ func Boot() {
 		glog.V(1).Infof("Loaded config file: %s", configPath)
 	}
 
+	stats.DefaultBufferSize = cfg.StatsBufferSize
+
 	tkr, err := tracker.New(cfg)
 	if err != nil {
 		glog.Fatal("New: ", err)
diff --git a/config/config.go b/config/config.go
index beb1bfa..e3c9557 100644
--- a/config/config.go
+++ b/config/config.go
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ type Config struct {
 	MinAnnounce     Duration `json:"min_announce"`
 	RequestTimeout  Duration `json:"request_timeout"`
 	NumWantFallback int      `json:"default_num_want"`
+	StatsBufferSize int      `json:"stats_buffer_size"`
 
 	NetConfig
 }
@@ -91,6 +92,7 @@ var DefaultConfig = Config{
 	MinAnnounce:     Duration{15 * time.Minute},
 	RequestTimeout:  Duration{10 * time.Second},
 	NumWantFallback: 50,
+	StatsBufferSize: 0,
 
 	NetConfig: NetConfig{
 		AllowIPSpoofing:  true,
@@ -120,10 +122,7 @@ func Open(path string) (*Config, error) {
 
 // Decode casts an io.Reader into a JSONDecoder and decodes it into a *Config.
 func Decode(r io.Reader) (*Config, error) {
-	conf := &Config{}
-	err := json.NewDecoder(r).Decode(conf)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	return conf, nil
+	conf := DefaultConfig
+	err := json.NewDecoder(r).Decode(&conf)
+	return &conf, err
 }
diff --git a/stats/stats.go b/stats/stats.go
index 2ea809a..47cb4df 100644
--- a/stats/stats.go
+++ b/stats/stats.go
@@ -6,10 +6,7 @@
 // BitTorrent tracker.
 package stats
 
-import (
-	"flag"
-	"time"
-)
+import "time"
 
 const (
 	Announce = iota
@@ -40,14 +37,10 @@ const (
 // channel for broadcasting events unless specified otherwise via a command
 // line flag.
 var (
-	DefaultStats     *Stats
-	DefaultChanSizes int
+	DefaultStats      *Stats
+	DefaultBufferSize int
 )
 
-func init() {
-	flag.IntVar(&DefaultChanSizes, "stats_chan_sizes", 0, "specifies the size of chans used to collect stats")
-}
-
 type PeerStats struct {
 	// Stats for all peers.
 	Current   uint64 `json:"current"`   // Current total peer count.
@@ -246,7 +239,7 @@ func (s *Stats) handlePeerEvent(ps *PeerStats, event int) {
 // RecordEvent broadcasts an event to the default stats queue.
 func RecordEvent(event int) {
 	if DefaultStats == nil {
-		DefaultStats = New(DefaultChanSizes)
+		DefaultStats = New(DefaultBufferSize)
 	}
 
 	DefaultStats.RecordEvent(event)
@@ -255,7 +248,7 @@ func RecordEvent(event int) {
 // RecordPeerEvent broadcasts a peer event to the default stats queue.
 func RecordPeerEvent(event int, ipv6 bool) {
 	if DefaultStats == nil {
-		DefaultStats = New(DefaultChanSizes)
+		DefaultStats = New(DefaultBufferSize)
 	}
 
 	DefaultStats.RecordPeerEvent(event, ipv6)
@@ -264,7 +257,7 @@ func RecordPeerEvent(event int, ipv6 bool) {
 // RecordTiming broadcasts a timing event to the default stats queue.
 func RecordTiming(event int, duration time.Duration) {
 	if DefaultStats == nil {
-		DefaultStats = New(DefaultChanSizes)
+		DefaultStats = New(DefaultBufferSize)
 	}
 
 	DefaultStats.RecordTiming(event, duration)