diff --git a/backend/hdfs/fs.go b/backend/hdfs/fs.go
index 8ba9d2366..dfe98bbd4 100644
--- a/backend/hdfs/fs.go
+++ b/backend/hdfs/fs.go
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ func NewFs(ctx context.Context, name, root string, m configmap.Mapper) (fs.Fs, e
 	}
 
 	options := hdfs.ClientOptions{
-		Addresses:           []string{opt.Namenode},
+		Addresses:           opt.Namenode,
 		UseDatanodeHostname: false,
 	}
 
diff --git a/backend/hdfs/hdfs.go b/backend/hdfs/hdfs.go
index 896b7c18f..312aa1e5c 100644
--- a/backend/hdfs/hdfs.go
+++ b/backend/hdfs/hdfs.go
@@ -20,9 +20,10 @@ func init() {
 		NewFs:       NewFs,
 		Options: []fs.Option{{
 			Name:      "namenode",
-			Help:      "Hadoop name node and port.\n\nE.g. \"namenode:8020\" to connect to host namenode at port 8020.",
+			Help:      "Hadoop name nodes and ports.\n\nE.g. \"namenode-1:8020,namenode-2:8020,...\" to connect to host namenodes at port 8020.",
 			Required:  true,
 			Sensitive: true,
+			Default:   fs.CommaSepList{},
 		}, {
 			Name: "username",
 			Help: "Hadoop user name.",
@@ -65,7 +66,7 @@ and 'privacy'. Used only with KERBEROS enabled.`,
 
 // Options for this backend
 type Options struct {
-	Namenode               string               `config:"namenode"`
+	Namenode               fs.CommaSepList      `config:"namenode"`
 	Username               string               `config:"username"`
 	ServicePrincipalName   string               `config:"service_principal_name"`
 	DataTransferProtection string               `config:"data_transfer_protection"`