diff --git a/src/Config.php b/src/Config.php
index d55e9e9..d1a6c8b 100644
--- a/src/Config.php
+++ b/src/Config.php
@@ -491,22 +491,9 @@ protected function _assertValidExtend($extendingSection, $extendedSection)
     protected function _arrayMergeRecursive($firstArray, $secondArray)
     {
         if (is_array($firstArray) && is_array($secondArray)) {
-            foreach ($secondArray as $key => $value) {
-                if (isset($firstArray[$key])) {
-                    $firstArray[$key] = $this->_arrayMergeRecursive($firstArray[$key], $value);
-                } else {
-                    if($key === 0) {
-                        $firstArray= array(0=>$this->_arrayMergeRecursive($firstArray, $value));
-                    } else {
-                        $firstArray[$key] = $value;
-                    }
-                }
-            }
-        } else {
-            $firstArray = $secondArray;
+            return array_replace_recursive($firstArray, $secondArray);
         }
-
-        return $firstArray;
+        return $secondArray;
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/src/Xml.php b/src/Xml.php
index 26046cf..48dddac 100644
--- a/src/Xml.php
+++ b/src/Xml.php
@@ -292,4 +292,33 @@ protected function _toArray(\SimpleXMLElement $xmlObject)
 
         return $config;
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Merge two arrays recursively, overwriting keys of the same name
+     * in $firstArray with the value in $secondArray.
+     *
+     * @param  mixed $firstArray  First array
+     * @param  mixed $secondArray Second array to merge into first array
+     * @return array
+     */
+    protected function _arrayMergeRecursive($firstArray, $secondArray)
+    {
+        if (is_array($firstArray) && is_array($secondArray)) {
+            foreach ($secondArray as $key => $value) {
+                if (isset($firstArray[$key])) {
+                    $firstArray[$key] = $this->_arrayMergeRecursive($firstArray[$key], $value);
+                } else {
+                    if($key === 0) {
+                        $firstArray= array(0=>$this->_arrayMergeRecursive($firstArray, $value));
+                    } else {
+                        $firstArray[$key] = $value;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        } else {
+            $firstArray = $secondArray;
+        }
+
+        return $firstArray;
+    }
 }