diff --git a/lib/nconf/stores/memory.js b/lib/nconf/stores/memory.js
index b53ac12..a74cc8f 100644
--- a/lib/nconf/stores/memory.js
+++ b/lib/nconf/stores/memory.js
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ Memory.prototype.get = function (key) {
   //
   while (path.length > 0) {
     key = path.shift();
-    if (target && key in target) {
+    if (target && typeof target !== 'string' && key in target) {
       target = target[key];
       continue;
     }