diff --git a/lib/hooks/orm/backwards-compatibility/upgrade-datastore.js b/lib/hooks/orm/backwards-compatibility/upgrade-datastore.js
index 8de1fd780..517cc055c 100644
--- a/lib/hooks/orm/backwards-compatibility/upgrade-datastore.js
+++ b/lib/hooks/orm/backwards-compatibility/upgrade-datastore.js
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ module.exports = function howto_normalizeDatastore(sails){
     // Defaults connection object to its adapter's defaults
     // TODO: pull this out into waterline core
     var itsAdapter = sails.adapters[connectionObject.adapter];
-    connection = _.merge({}, itsAdapter.defaults, connectionObject);
+    connection = sails.util.merge({}, itsAdapter.defaults, connectionObject);
 
     // If the adapter has a `registerCollection` method, it must be a v0.9.x adapter
     if (itsAdapter.registerCollection) {