diff --git a/nums/api.py b/nums/api.py
index 5d7bae84..e13ffd96 100644
--- a/nums/api.py
+++ b/nums/api.py
@@ -25,10 +25,14 @@ def init(
     address: Optional[str] = None,
     num_cpus: Optional[int] = None,
     cluster_shape: Optional[tuple] = None,
+    backend: Optional[str] = None,
 ):
     # pylint: disable = import-outside-toplevel
     import nums.core.settings as settings
 
+    if backend is not None:
+        assert backend in {"serial", "ray", "dask", "mpi"}
+        settings.backend_name = backend
     if cluster_shape is not None:
         settings.cluster_shape = cluster_shape
         settings.num_cpus = num_cpus
diff --git a/tests/test_api.py b/tests/test_api.py
index abb5cee1..8f459e98 100644
--- a/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/tests/test_api.py
@@ -24,6 +24,23 @@
 # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel
 
 
+def test_init():
+    import nums
+    from nums.core import application_manager
+    from nums.core.backends.serial import SerialBackend
+    from nums.core.backends.ray import RayBackend
+
+    nums.init(backend="serial")
+    instance = application_manager.instance()
+    assert isinstance(instance.km.backend, SerialBackend)
+    application_manager.destroy()
+
+    nums.init(backend="ray")
+    instance = application_manager.instance()
+    assert isinstance(instance.km.backend, RayBackend)
+    application_manager.destroy()
+
+
 def test_rwd():
     import nums
     from nums.core import application_manager