diff --git a/bwscanner/attacher.py b/bwscanner/attacher.py
index b6f3580..a7541f6 100644
--- a/bwscanner/attacher.py
+++ b/bwscanner/attacher.py
@@ -158,14 +158,12 @@ def connect_to_tor(launch_tor, circuit_build_timeout, control_port=None,
     if tor_overrides:
         tor_options.update(tor_overrides)
 
-    tor_config = txtorcon.TorConfig()
-
-    # Update Tor config options from dictionary
-    for key, value in tor_options.items():
-        setattr(tor_config, key, value)
-
     if launch_tor:
         log.info("Spawning a new Tor instance.")
+        tor_config = txtorcon.TorConfig()
+        # Update tor config options from dictionary
+        for key, value in tor_options.items():
+            setattr(tor_config, key, value)
         # TODO: Pass in data_dir directory so consensus can be cached
         # Launch tor with config, in order to don't get CONF_CHANGED when
         # updating options that can't be changed while tor is running.
@@ -179,7 +177,8 @@ def connect_to_tor(launch_tor, circuit_build_timeout, control_port=None,
         tor = yield txtorcon.connect(reactor, endpoint)
         # TODO: check whether CONF_CHANGED will happen here or not because
         # we get the state later
-        tor.config = tor_config
+        for key, value in tor_options.items():
+            setattr(tor.config, key, value)
         tor.config.save()
 
     wait_for_consensus = options_need_new_consensus(tor_config, tor_options)