diff --git a/hammer.js b/hammer.js
index 008f29d47..522668899 100644
--- a/hammer.js
+++ b/hammer.js
@@ -1256,13 +1256,10 @@ var STATE_FAILED = 32;
  * @param {Object} options
  */
 function Recognizer(options) {
-    // make sure, options are copied over to a new object to prevent leaking it outside
-    options = extend({}, options || {});
-
     this.id = uniqueId();
 
     this.manager = null;
-    this.options = merge(options, this.defaults);
+    this.options = merge(options || {}, this.defaults);
 
     // default is enable true
     this.options.enable = ifUndefined(this.options.enable, true);
diff --git a/src/recognizer.js b/src/recognizer.js
index f9f1ec90c..f9c47d406 100644
--- a/src/recognizer.js
+++ b/src/recognizer.js
@@ -40,10 +40,13 @@ var STATE_FAILED = 32;
  * @param {Object} options
  */
 function Recognizer(options) {
+    // make sure, options are copied over to a new object to prevent leaking it outside
+    options = extend({}, options || {});
+
     this.id = uniqueId();
 
     this.manager = null;
-    this.options = merge(options || {}, this.defaults);
+    this.options = merge(options, this.defaults);
 
     // default is enable true
     this.options.enable = ifUndefined(this.options.enable, true);