diff --git a/merge-recursive.c b/merge-recursive.c
index 245232a408..7472d3ecc9 100644
--- a/merge-recursive.c
+++ b/merge-recursive.c
@@ -1332,7 +1332,7 @@ static int merge_recursive_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb)
 		o->merge_rename_limit = git_config_int(var, value);
 		return 0;
 	}
-	return git_default_config(var, value, cb);
+	return git_xmerge_config(var, value, cb);
 }
 
 void init_merge_options(struct merge_options *o)