(riak@127.0.0.1)25> erlang:list_to_existing_atom("backend").
** exception error: bad argument
     in function  list_to_existing_atom/1
        called as list_to_existing_atom("backend")
(riak@127.0.0.1)26> backend.                                
backend
(riak@127.0.0.1)27> erlang:list_to_existing_atom("backend").
backend
(riak@127.0.0.1)28