diff --git a/lib/app/configuration/load.js b/lib/app/configuration/load.js
index 0553ec609..76e4b726a 100644
--- a/lib/app/configuration/load.js
+++ b/lib/app/configuration/load.js
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ module.exports = function(sails) {
         mapOverrides: function(cb) {
 
           // Clone the `overrides` that were passed in.
-          var overrides = _.cloneDeep(sails.config || {});
+          var overrides = _.clone(sails.config || {});
 
           // TODO: bring the rconf stuff from bin/sails-lift in here
 
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ module.exports = function(sails) {
             var implicitDefaults = self.defaults(overrides.appPath || process.cwd());
 
             // Extend copy of implicit defaults with user config
-            var mergedConfig = _.merge(_.cloneDeep(implicitDefaults), overrides);
+            var mergedConfig = _.merge(_.clone(implicitDefaults), overrides);
 
             cb(null, mergedConfig);
           }
diff --git a/lib/app/load.js b/lib/app/load.js
index 5576d3fc6..527490eaf 100644
--- a/lib/app/load.js
+++ b/lib/app/load.js
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ module.exports = function(sails) {
 
     // Ensure override is an object and clone it (or make an empty object if it's not)
     configOverride = configOverride || {};
-    sails.config = _.cloneDeep(configOverride);
+    sails.config = _.clone(configOverride);
 
 
     // If host is explicitly specified, set `explicitHost`
diff --git a/lib/hooks/userconfig/index.js b/lib/hooks/userconfig/index.js
index b97c29dcd..8ec7033f7 100644
--- a/lib/hooks/userconfig/index.js
+++ b/lib/hooks/userconfig/index.js
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ module.exports = function(sails) {
       sails.log.verbose('Loading app config...');
 
       // Grab reference to mapped overrides
-      var overrides = _.cloneDeep(sails.config);
+      var overrides = _.clone(sails.config);
 
 
       // If appPath not specified yet, use process.cwd()