diff --git a/examples/notebooks/functions.py b/examples/notebooks/functions.py
index 0c81ff58..f0f7d84a 100644
--- a/examples/notebooks/functions.py
+++ b/examples/notebooks/functions.py
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ def init_quantity(
             units=units,
             origin=(nhalo, nhalo, 0)[:skip_z],
             extent=(nx, ny, nz)[:skip_z],
-            gt4py_backend=backend,
+            backend=backend,
         )
 
     if grid == VariableGrid.CellCorners:
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ def init_quantity(
             units=units,
             origin=(nhalo, nhalo, 0)[:skip_z],
             extent=(nx + 1, ny + 1, nz)[:skip_z],
-            gt4py_backend=backend,
+            backend=backend,
         )
 
     elif grid == VariableGrid.StaggeredInX:
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ def init_quantity(
             units=units,
             origin=(nhalo, nhalo, 0)[:skip_z],
             extent=(nx + 1, ny, nz)[:skip_z],
-            gt4py_backend=backend,
+            backend=backend,
         )
 
     elif grid == VariableGrid.StaggeredInY:
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ def init_quantity(
             units=units,
             origin=(nhalo, nhalo, 0)[:skip_z],
             extent=(nx, ny + 1, nz)[:skip_z],
-            gt4py_backend=backend,
+            backend=backend,
         )
 
     return variable
diff --git a/examples/notebooks/grid_generation.ipynb b/examples/notebooks/grid_generation.ipynb
index eb331536..3442d50e 100644
--- a/examples/notebooks/grid_generation.ipynb
+++ b/examples/notebooks/grid_generation.ipynb
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@
     "    units=\"degrees\",\n",
     "    origin=(nhalo, nhalo),\n",
     "    extent=(nx + 1, ny + 1),\n",
-    "    gt4py_backend=backend,\n",
+    "    backend=backend,\n",
     ")\n",
     "lat = Quantity(\n",
     "    metric_terms.lat.data * 180 / np.pi,\n",
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@
     "    units=\"degrees\",\n",
     "    origin=(nhalo, nhalo),\n",
     "    extent=(nx + 1, ny + 1),\n",
-    "    gt4py_backend=backend,\n",
+    "    backend=backend,\n",
     ")\n",
     "\n",
     "# gather the distributed fields into a global field on the root rank\n",
@@ -357,7 +357,7 @@
     "    units=\"m2\",\n",
     "    origin=(nhalo, nhalo),\n",
     "    extent=(nx, ny),\n",
-    "    gt4py_backend=backend,\n",
+    "    backend=backend,\n",
     ")\n",
     "\n",
     "# rescale to 10^3 km2\n",
diff --git a/pace/grid.py b/pace/grid.py
index f91434c6..2e681334 100644
--- a/pace/grid.py
+++ b/pace/grid.py
@@ -181,12 +181,8 @@ def get_grid(
         quantity_factory: QuantityFactory,
         communicator: Communicator,
     ) -> Tuple[DampingCoefficients, DriverGridData, GridData]:
-        backend = quantity_factory.zeros(
-            dims=[X_DIM, Y_DIM], units="unknown"
-        ).gt4py_backend
-
         ndsl_log.info("Using serialized grid data")
-        grid = self._get_serialized_grid(communicator, backend)
+        grid = self._get_serialized_grid(communicator, quantity_factory.backend)
         grid_data = grid.grid_data
         driver_grid_data = grid.driver_grid_data
         damping_coefficients = grid.damping_coefficients
diff --git a/pace/initialization.py b/pace/initialization.py
index b3eed492..f4eff622 100644
--- a/pace/initialization.py
+++ b/pace/initialization.py
@@ -286,11 +286,9 @@ def get_driver_state(
         grid_data: GridData,
         schemes: List[PHYSICS_PACKAGES],
     ) -> DriverState:
-        backend = quantity_factory.zeros(
-            dims=[X_DIM, Y_DIM], units="unknown"
-        ).gt4py_backend
-
-        dycore_state = self._initialize_dycore_state(communicator, backend)
+        dycore_state = self._initialize_dycore_state(
+            communicator, quantity_factory.backend
+        )
         physics_state = PhysicsState.init_zeros(
             quantity_factory=quantity_factory,
             schemes=schemes,
diff --git a/tests/main/driver/test_safety_checks.py b/tests/main/driver/test_safety_checks.py
index 77560b88..9eec5c73 100644
--- a/tests/main/driver/test_safety_checks.py
+++ b/tests/main/driver/test_safety_checks.py
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ def test_check_state_domain_only():
         "unknown",
         origin=(1, 1, 0),
         extent=(3, 3, 2),
-        gt4py_backend="numpy",
+        backend="numpy",
     )
     dycore_state = unittest.mock.MagicMock(u=u_quantity)
     checker.check_state(dycore_state)
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ def test_check_nan_value():
         "unknown",
         origin=(0, 0, 0),
         extent=(4, 4, 2),
-        gt4py_backend="numpy",
+        backend="numpy",
     )
     dycore_state = unittest.mock.MagicMock(u=u_quantity)
     with pytest.raises(RuntimeError):