diff --git a/lib/nconf/stores/memory.js b/lib/nconf/stores/memory.js
index a74cc8f..6205742 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 && typeof target !== 'string' && key in target) {
+    if (target && target.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
       target = target[key];
       continue;
     }
diff --git a/test/stores/memory-store-test.js b/test/stores/memory-store-test.js
index f79fd50..5caf488 100644
--- a/test/stores/memory-store-test.js
+++ b/test/stores/memory-store-test.js
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ vows.describe('nconf/stores/memory').addBatch({
             assert.equal(store.get('falsy:string:empty:not:exist'), undefined);
           }, TypeError);
         },
-        "within empty strings": function (store) {
+        "within non-empty strings": function (store) {
           assert.doesNotThrow(function() {
             assert.equal(store.get('falsy:string:value:not:exist'), undefined);
           }, TypeError);
@@ -105,4 +105,4 @@ vows.describe('nconf/stores/memory').addBatch({
       }
     }
   }
-}).export(module);
\ No newline at end of file
+}).export(module);