diff --git a/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/exporter.py b/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/exporter.py
index 61b5e2d..7629232 100755
--- a/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/exporter.py
+++ b/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/exporter.py
@@ -170,11 +170,13 @@ class Exporter(LoggingConfigurable):
         template : str (optional, kw arg)
             Template to use when exporting.
         """
+        if not config:
+            config = self.default_config
         
         super(Exporter, self).__init__(config=config, **kw)
 
         #Init
-        self._init_template(**kw)
+        self._init_template()
         self._init_environment(extra_loaders=extra_loaders)
         self._init_transformers()
         self._init_filters()
@@ -189,8 +191,9 @@ class Exporter(LoggingConfigurable):
         c = self.default_config
         if new:
             c.merge(new)
-        if c != new:
+        if c != old:
             self.config = c
+        super(Exporter, self)._config_changed(name, old, c)
         
 
     def _load_template(self):
@@ -382,14 +385,12 @@ class Exporter(LoggingConfigurable):
             raise TypeError('filter')
 
         
-    def _init_template(self, **kw):
+    def _init_template(self):
         """
         Make sure a template name is specified.  If one isn't specified, try to
         build one from the information we know.
         """
         self._template_file_changed('template_file', self.template_file, self.template_file)
-        if 'template' in kw:
-            self.template_file = kw['template']
         
 
     def _init_environment(self, extra_loaders=None):
diff --git a/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/tests/test_exporter.py b/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/tests/test_exporter.py
index 64855f8..c65f150 100644
--- a/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/tests/test_exporter.py
+++ b/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/tests/test_exporter.py
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ class TestExporter(ExportersTestsBase):
 
     def test_transformer_via_method(self):
         """
-        Can a transformer be added via the Exporter convinience method?
+        Can a transformer be added via the Exporter convenience method?
         """
         exporter = self._make_exporter()
         exporter.register_transformer(CheeseTransformer, enabled=True)
@@ -108,6 +108,5 @@ class TestExporter(ExportersTestsBase):
     def _make_exporter(self, config=None):
         #Create the exporter instance, make sure to set a template name since
         #the base Exporter doesn't have a template associated with it.
-        exporter = Exporter(config=config)
-        exporter.template_file = 'python'
+        exporter = Exporter(config=config, template_file='python')
         return exporter        
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/tests/test_html.py b/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/tests/test_html.py
index f5df23c..10c41ba 100644
--- a/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/tests/test_html.py
+++ b/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/tests/test_html.py
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ class TestHTMLExporter(ExportersTestsBase):
         """
         Can a HTMLExporter export using the 'basic' template?
         """
-        (output, resources) = HTMLExporter(template='basic').from_filename(self._get_notebook())
+        (output, resources) = HTMLExporter(template_file='basic').from_filename(self._get_notebook())
         assert len(output) > 0
 
 
@@ -55,5 +55,5 @@ class TestHTMLExporter(ExportersTestsBase):
         """
         Can a HTMLExporter export using the 'full' template?
         """
-        (output, resources) = HTMLExporter(template='full').from_filename(self._get_notebook())
+        (output, resources) = HTMLExporter(template_file='full').from_filename(self._get_notebook())
         assert len(output) > 0
diff --git a/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/tests/test_latex.py b/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/tests/test_latex.py
index b692eb7..72c3efc 100644
--- a/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/tests/test_latex.py
+++ b/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/tests/test_latex.py
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ class TestLatexExporter(ExportersTestsBase):
         """
         Can a LatexExporter export using 'book' template?
         """
-        (output, resources) = LatexExporter(template='book').from_filename(self._get_notebook())
+        (output, resources) = LatexExporter(template_file='book').from_filename(self._get_notebook())
         assert len(output) > 0
 
 
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ class TestLatexExporter(ExportersTestsBase):
         """
         Can a LatexExporter export using 'basic' template?
         """
-        (output, resources) = LatexExporter(template='basic').from_filename(self._get_notebook())
+        (output, resources) = LatexExporter(template_file='basic').from_filename(self._get_notebook())
         assert len(output) > 0
 
 
@@ -64,5 +64,5 @@ class TestLatexExporter(ExportersTestsBase):
         """
         Can a LatexExporter export using 'article' template?
         """
-        (output, resources) = LatexExporter(template='article').from_filename(self._get_notebook())
+        (output, resources) = LatexExporter(template_file='article').from_filename(self._get_notebook())
         assert len(output) > 0
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/tests/test_slides.py b/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/tests/test_slides.py
index f034c19..9b2c496 100644
--- a/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/tests/test_slides.py
+++ b/IPython/nbconvert/exporters/tests/test_slides.py
@@ -46,5 +46,5 @@ class TestSlidesExporter(ExportersTestsBase):
         """
         Can a SlidesExporter export using the 'reveal' template?
         """
-        (output, resources) = SlidesExporter(template='reveal').from_filename(self._get_notebook())
+        (output, resources) = SlidesExporter(template_file='reveal').from_filename(self._get_notebook())
         assert len(output) > 0