diff --git a/packages/node_modules/node-red/red.js b/packages/node_modules/node-red/red.js
index 5fb99bffa..20d835296 100755
--- a/packages/node_modules/node-red/red.js
+++ b/packages/node_modules/node-red/red.js
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ if (parsedArgs.define) {
             if (match) {
                 if (!match[4]) {
                     var val = JSON.parse(match[3]);
-                    setProperty(settings, match[2], val);
+                    RED.util.setObjectProperty(settings, match[2], val, true);
                 }
                 else {
                     var obj = fs.readJsonSync(match[4]);