diff --git a/lib/nconf/stores/literal.js b/lib/nconf/stores/literal.js
index b2424b1..ed87bab 100644
--- a/lib/nconf/stores/literal.js
+++ b/lib/nconf/stores/literal.js
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ var Literal = exports.Literal = function Literal (options) {
   options       = options || {}
   this.type     = 'literal';
   this.readOnly = true;
-  this.store    = options.store || {};
+  this.store    = options.store || options;
 };
 
 // Inherit from Memory store.