diff --git a/synapse/cryotank.py b/synapse/cryotank.py
index b3b09cc5..d98e3a76 100644
--- a/synapse/cryotank.py
+++ b/synapse/cryotank.py
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ def handlers(self):
         CryoCell message handlers.
         '''
         return {
-            'cryo:new': self._onCryoNew,
+            'cryo:init': self._onCryoInit,
             'cryo:list': self._onCryoList,
             'cryo:last': self._onCryoLast,
             'cryo:puts': self._onCryoPuts,
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ def _onCryoPuts(self, chan, mesg):
                 tank.puts(items)
 
     @s_glob.inpool
-    def _onCryoNew(self, chan, mesg):
+    def _onCryoInit(self, chan, mesg):
         name = mesg[1].get('name')
         conf = mesg[1].get('conf')
 
@@ -516,7 +516,7 @@ def metrics(self, name, offs, size, timeout=None):
         mesg = ('cryo:metrics', {'name': name, 'offs': offs, 'size': size})
         return self._cryo_sess.call(mesg, timeout=timeout)
 
-    def new(self, name, conf=None, timeout=None):
+    def init(self, name, conf=None, timeout=None):
         '''
         Create a new named Cryotank.
 
@@ -529,5 +529,5 @@ def new(self, name, conf=None, timeout=None):
             True if the tank was created, False if the tank existed or
             there was an error during CryoTank creation.
         '''
-        mesg = ('cryo:new', {'name': name, 'conf': conf})
+        mesg = ('cryo:init', {'name': name, 'conf': conf})
         return self._cryo_sess.call(mesg, timeout=timeout)
diff --git a/synapse/tests/test_cryotank.py b/synapse/tests/test_cryotank.py
index b71318b6..7f511f1b 100644
--- a/synapse/tests/test_cryotank.py
+++ b/synapse/tests/test_cryotank.py
@@ -152,10 +152,10 @@ def test_cryo_cell(self):
                 self.len(1, (user.metrics('woot:hehe', 0, 100)))
 
                 # We can initialize a new tank directly with a custom map size
-                self.true(user.new('weee:imthebest', {'mapsize': 5558675309}))
-                self.false(user.new('woot:hehe'))
+                self.true(user.init('weee:imthebest', {'mapsize': 5558675309}))
+                self.false(user.init('woot:hehe'))
                 with self.getLoggerStream('synapse.cryotank') as stream:
-                    self.false(user.new('weee:danktank', {'newp': 'hehe'}))
+                    self.false(user.init('weee:danktank', {'newp': 'hehe'}))
                 stream.seek(0)
                 mesgs = stream.read()
                 self.isin('Error making CryoTank', mesgs)