diff --git a/chef/node.py b/chef/node.py
index ea7666b..04a1534 100644
--- a/chef/node.py
+++ b/chef/node.py
@@ -123,9 +123,27 @@ def set_dotted(self, key, value):
     def to_dict(self):
         merged = {}
         for d in reversed(self.search_path):
-            merged.update(d)
+            self._dict_recursive_merge(merged, d)
         return merged
 
+    def _dict_recursive_merge(self, a, b, path=None):
+        """merges b into a, when a key already exists for an exact
+           path, it is overwritten
+        """
+        if path is None:
+            path = []
+        for key in b:
+            if key in a:
+                if isinstance(a[key], dict) and isinstance(b[key], dict):
+                    self._dict_recursive_merge(a[key], b[key], path + [str(key)])
+                elif a[key] == b[key]:
+                    pass
+                else:
+                    a[key] = b[key]
+            else:
+                a[key] = b[key]
+        return a
+
 
 class Node(ChefObject):
     """A Chef node object.