diff --git a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/runtime/lib/settings.js b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/runtime/lib/settings.js
index e22a90686..16667d177 100644
--- a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/runtime/lib/settings.js
+++ b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/runtime/lib/settings.js
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ var persistentSettings = {
             assert.deepEqual(current,value);
             return when.resolve();
         } catch(err) {
-            return storage.saveSettings(globalSettings);
+            return storage.saveSettings(clone(globalSettings));
         }
     },
     delete: function(prop) {
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ var persistentSettings = {
         }
         if (globalSettings.hasOwnProperty(prop)) {
             delete globalSettings[prop];
-            return storage.saveSettings(globalSettings);
+            return storage.saveSettings(clone(globalSettings));
         }
         return when.resolve();
     },
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ var persistentSettings = {
             return when.resolve();
         } catch(err) {
             globalSettings.users = userSettings;
-            return storage.saveSettings(globalSettings);
+            return storage.saveSettings(clone(globalSettings));
         }
     }
 }