diff --git a/lib/router/bind.js b/lib/router/bind.js
index 255c54ad79..8dd32f1617 100644
--- a/lib/router/bind.js
+++ b/lib/router/bind.js
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ function bindFunction(path, fn, verb, options) {
   var enhancedFn = function routeTargetFnWrapper(req, res, next) {
 
     // Set req.options, using `options` to supply default values
-    req.options = _.merge(options || {}, req.options || {});
+    req.options = _.merge({}, options || {}, req.options || {});
 
     // This event can be tapped into to take control of logic
     // that should be run before each middleware function