diff --git a/lib/nconf/provider.js b/lib/nconf/provider.js
index 9807a41..56d0a71 100644
--- a/lib/nconf/provider.js
+++ b/lib/nconf/provider.js
@@ -343,17 +343,20 @@ Provider.prototype.load = function (callback) {
   }
   
   function loadSources () {
+    var sourceHierarchy = self.sources.splice(0);
+    sourceHierarchy.reverse();
+
     //
     // If we don't have a callback and the current 
     // store is capable of loading synchronously
     // then do so.
     //
     if (!callback) {
-      mergeSources(loadBatch(self.sources));
+      mergeSources(loadBatch(sourceHierarchy));
       return loadBatch(getStores());
     }
     
-    loadBatch(self.sources, function (err, data) {
+    loadBatch(sourceHierarchy, function (err, data) {
       if (err) {
         return callback(err);
       }