diff --git a/reclass/datatypes/parameters.py b/reclass/datatypes/parameters.py
index c96a67d..cbee11f 100644
--- a/reclass/datatypes/parameters.py
+++ b/reclass/datatypes/parameters.py
@@ -153,6 +153,9 @@
         ret = cur
         for (key, newvalue) in iteritems(new):
             if key.startswith(self._settings.dict_key_override_prefix) and not self._keep_overrides:
+                if not isinstance(newvalue, Value):
+                    newvalue = Value(newvalue, self._settings, self._uri)
+                newvalue.overwrite = True
                 ret[key.lstrip(self._settings.dict_key_override_prefix)] = newvalue
             else:
                 ret[key] = self._merge_recurse(ret.get(key), newvalue, path.new_subpath(key))
@@ -177,7 +180,6 @@
 
         """
 
-
         if cur is None:
             return new
         elif isinstance(new, dict) and isinstance(cur, dict):
diff --git a/reclass/datatypes/tests/test_parameters.py b/reclass/datatypes/tests/test_parameters.py
index b5dc243..ecd112c 100644
--- a/reclass/datatypes/tests/test_parameters.py
+++ b/reclass/datatypes/tests/test_parameters.py
@@ -643,5 +643,18 @@
         p1.interpolate()
         self.assertEqual(p1.as_dict(), r)
 
+    def test_complex_overwrites_1(self):
+        # find a better name for this test
+        p1 = Parameters({ 'test': { 'dict': { 'a': '${values:one}', 'b': '${values:two}' } },
+                          'values': { 'one': 1, 'two': 2, 'three': { 'x': 'X', 'y': 'Y' } } }, SETTINGS, '')
+        p2 = Parameters({ 'test': { 'dict': { 'c': '${values:two}' } } }, SETTINGS, '')
+        p3 = Parameters({ 'test': { 'dict': { '~b': '${values:three}' } } }, SETTINGS, '')
+        r = {'test': {'dict': {'a': 1, 'b': {'x': 'X', 'y': 'Y'}, 'c': 2}}, 'values': {'one': 1, 'three': {'x': 'X', 'y': 'Y'}, 'two': 2} }
+        p2.merge(p3)
+        p1.merge(p2)
+        p1.interpolate()
+        self.assertEqual(p1.as_dict(), r)
+
+
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     unittest.main()
diff --git a/reclass/values/value.py b/reclass/values/value.py
index 74ef272..7a855ad 100644
--- a/reclass/values/value.py
+++ b/reclass/values/value.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
     def __init__(self, value, settings, uri):
         self._settings = settings
         self._uri = uri
+        self._overwrite = False
         if isinstance(value, str):
             try:
                 self._item = self._parser.parse(value, self._settings)
@@ -30,6 +31,14 @@
         else:
             self._item = ScaItem(value, self._settings)
 
+    @property
+    def overwrite(self):
+        return self._overwrite
+
+    @overwrite.setter
+    def overwrite(self, overwrite):
+        self._overwrite = overwrite
+
     def uri(self):
         return self._uri
 
diff --git a/reclass/values/valuelist.py b/reclass/values/valuelist.py
index fc0eaad..460dff0 100644
--- a/reclass/values/valuelist.py
+++ b/reclass/values/valuelist.py
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@
                 else:
                     raise e
 
-            if output is None:
+            if output is None or value.overwrite:
                 output = new
                 deepCopied = False
             else:
@@ -124,6 +124,7 @@
                     raise TypeError('Cannot merge %s over %s' % (repr(self._values[n]), repr(self._values[n-1])))
                 else:
                     output = new
+                    deepCopied = False
 
         if isinstance(output, (dict, list)) and last_error is not None:
             raise last_error