diff --git a/lib/hobo/config.rb b/lib/hobo/config.rb
index aee924000..80c0a230c 100644
--- a/lib/hobo/config.rb
+++ b/lib/hobo/config.rb
@@ -1,21 +1,17 @@
 module Hobo
   module_function
-
   def config
     @@config
   end
 
-  def alterable_config
-    @@alterable_config
-  end
-
   def config!(hash)
-    @@alterable_config = hash.dup
-    @@config = hash.freeze
+    @@config = hash
   end
 
-  def set_config_value(chain, val, cfg=@@alterable_config)
+  def set_config_value(chain, val, cfg=@@config)
     keys = chain.split('.')
+    return if keys.empty?
+
     key = keys.shift.to_sym
     if keys.empty? 
       raise InvalidSettingAlteration if cfg[key].instance_of?(Hash)
diff --git a/test/hobo/config_test.rb b/test/hobo/config_test.rb
index 1711e5557..f9e94b8df 100644
--- a/test/hobo/config_test.rb
+++ b/test/hobo/config_test.rb
@@ -7,30 +7,9 @@ class ConfigTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
       Hobo.config!(@settings)
     end
 
-    should "prevent alteration after initial creation" do
-      assert_raise TypeError do
-        Hobo.config[:a] = 1
-      end
-    end
-
-    should "leave the actual config unaltered when changing the alterable version" do
-      Hobo.alterable_config[:a] = 1
-      assert_equal Hobo.config, @settings
-    end
-
-    should "ensure that the alterable config and config match initially" do
-      assert_equal Hobo.config, Hobo.alterable_config
-    end
-
-    # TODO of debatable usefulness this test is 
-    should "allow for the alteration of the config" do
-      Hobo.alterable_config[:a] = 1
-      assert_not_equal Hobo.alterable_config, Hobo.config
-    end
-
     should "alter the config given a dot chain of keys" do
       Hobo.set_config_value 'a.b', 2
-      assert_equal Hobo.alterable_config[:a][:b], 2
+      assert_equal Hobo.config[:a][:b], 2
     end
 
     should "prevent the alteration of a non leaf setting value" do
@@ -38,5 +17,11 @@ class ConfigTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
         Hobo.set_config_value('a', 2)
       end
     end
+
+    should "not alter settings through the chain method when provided and empty string" do
+      prev = Hobo.config
+      Hobo.set_config_value '', 2
+      assert_equal Hobo.config, prev
+    end
   end
 end