diff --git a/lib/jbuilder.rb b/lib/jbuilder.rb
index c3305328..9bb0a392 100644
--- a/lib/jbuilder.rb
+++ b/lib/jbuilder.rb
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ def _merge_values(current_value, updates)
     elsif ::Array === updates
       ::Array === current_value ? current_value + updates : updates
     elsif ::Hash === current_value
-      current_value.merge(updates)
+      current_value.deep_merge(updates)
     else
       raise "Can't merge #{updates.inspect} with #{current_value.inspect}"
     end