diff --git a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/runtime/lib/api/settings.js b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/runtime/lib/api/settings.js
index e8ea36f04..0224c0ca6 100644
--- a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/runtime/lib/api/settings.js
+++ b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/runtime/lib/api/settings.js
@@ -36,7 +36,15 @@ function extend(target, source) {
         } else {
             // Object
             if (target.hasOwnProperty(keys[i])) {
-                target[keys[i]] = extend(target[keys[i]],value);
+                // Target property exists. Need to handle the case
+                // where the existing property is a string/number/boolean
+                // and is being replaced wholesale.
+                var targetType = typeof target[keys[i]];
+                if (targetType === 'string' || targetType === 'number' || targetType === 'boolean') {
+                    target[keys[i]] = value;
+                } else {
+                    target[keys[i]] = extend(target[keys[i]],value);
+                }
             } else {
                 target[keys[i]] = value;
             }