diff --git a/lib/nconf.js b/lib/nconf.js
index cadb34e..39d1a35 100644
--- a/lib/nconf.js
+++ b/lib/nconf.js
@@ -9,9 +9,14 @@ var Provider = require('./nconf/provider').Provider,
     nconf = module.exports = Object.create(Provider.prototype);
 
 //
-// ### Version 0.1.7 :: 4/20/2011
+// Use the memory engine by default.
 //
-nconf.version = [0, 1, 7];
+nconf.use('memory');
+
+//
+// ### Version 0.1.9 :: 5/16/2011
+//
+nconf.version = [0, 1, 9];
 
 //
 // ### function path (key)
diff --git a/lib/nconf/provider.js b/lib/nconf/provider.js
index 9b755be..ee0b4db 100644
--- a/lib/nconf/provider.js
+++ b/lib/nconf/provider.js
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ var stores = require('./stores');
 
 var Provider = exports.Provider = function (options) {
   options = options || {};
+  this.store = stores.create(options.type || 'memory', options);
 };
 
 //
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@ var Provider = exports.Provider = function (options) {
 //
 Provider.prototype.use = function (type, options) {
   if (!this.store || type.toLowerCase() !== this.store.type) {
-    this.store = new stores.create(type, options);
+    this.store = stores.create(type, options);
   }
 };