diff --git a/lib/vows.js b/lib/vows.js
index e415f6b..5066261 100644
--- a/lib/vows.js
+++ b/lib/vows.js
@@ -172,8 +172,10 @@ function addVows(tests) {
         (function count(tests) {
             var match = false;
             remaining++;
-            Object.keys(tests).forEach(function (key) {
-                if (typeof(tests[key]) === "object" && !Array.isArray(tests[key])) {
+            Object.keys(tests).filter(function (k) {
+                return k !== 'topic';
+            }).forEach(function (key) {
+                if (typeof(tests[key]) === "object") {
                     if (! (match = count(tests[key]) ||
                            match || vows.options.matcher.test(key))) {
                         delete tests[key];