diff --git a/lib/rules.js b/lib/rules.js
index a81131ad..c7461b02 100644
--- a/lib/rules.js
+++ b/lib/rules.js
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ module.exports = function (config) {
 
         options = typeof fullRule === 'object' ? fullRule[1] : {};
 
-        options = merge.recursive(loadRule.defaults, options);
+        options = merge.recursive(true, loadRule.defaults, options);
 
         handlers.push({
           'rule': loadRule,