diff --git a/src/emcee/ensemble.py b/src/emcee/ensemble.py
index 9a9a4216..af0ddc06 100644
--- a/src/emcee/ensemble.py
+++ b/src/emcee/ensemble.py
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ def __init__(
             # Get the last random state
             state = self.backend.random_state
             if state is not None:
-                self._random.bit_generator.state = state
+                self.random_state = state
 
             # Grab the last step so that we can restart
             it = self.backend.iteration
@@ -225,7 +225,12 @@ def random_state(self):
         def rng_dict(rng):
             bg_state = rng.bit_generator.state
             ss = rng.bit_generator.seed_seq
-            ss_dict = dict(entropy=ss.entropy, spawn_key=ss.spawn_key, pool_size=ss.pool_size, n_children_spawned=ss.n_children_spawned)
+            ss_dict = dict(
+                entropy=ss.entropy,
+                spawn_key=ss.spawn_key,
+                pool_size=ss.pool_size,
+                n_children_spawned=ss.n_children_spawned
+            )
             return dict(bg_state=bg_state, seed_seq=ss_dict)
         return rng_dict(self._random)
         # return self._random.bit_generator.state
diff --git a/src/emcee/tests/unit/test_backends.py b/src/emcee/tests/unit/test_backends.py
index b01f3995..e1ec5484 100644
--- a/src/emcee/tests/unit/test_backends.py
+++ b/src/emcee/tests/unit/test_backends.py
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ def test_backend(backend, dtype, blobs):
         last2 = sampler2.get_last_sample()
         assert np.allclose(last1.coords, last2.coords)
         assert np.allclose(last1.log_prob, last2.log_prob)
-        assert last1.random_state == last2.random_state
+        assert last1.random_state['bg_state'] == last2.random_state['bg_state']
         if blobs:
             _custom_allclose(last1.blobs, last2.blobs)
         else:
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ def test_restart(backend, dtype):
         last2 = sampler2.get_last_sample()
         assert np.allclose(last1.coords, last2.coords)
         assert np.allclose(last1.log_prob, last2.log_prob)
-        assert last1.random_state == last2.random_state
+        assert last1.random_state['bg_state'] == last2.random_state['bg_state']
         _custom_allclose(last1.blobs, last2.blobs)
 
         a = sampler1.acceptance_fraction