diff --git a/j2cfg/j2cfg/functions.py b/j2cfg/j2cfg/functions.py
index 480d791..6ba995d 100644
--- a/j2cfg/j2cfg/functions.py
+++ b/j2cfg/j2cfg/functions.py
@@ -278,11 +278,19 @@ def merge_dict_recurse(d1, d2: dict) -> dict:
 
     map_common = {k for k in map1 if is_mapping(d2.get(k))}
     for k in map_common:
-        x[k] = merge_dict_recurse(x.get(k), d2.get(k))
+        y = d2.get(k)
+        if not y:
+            x[k] = {}
+            continue
+        x[k] = merge_dict_recurse(x.get(k), y)
 
     seq_common = {k for k in seq1 if is_sequence(d2.get(k))}
     for k in seq_common:
-        x[k] = uniq(list(x.get(k)) + list(d2.get(k)))
+        y = d2.get(k)
+        if not y:
+            x[k] = []
+            continue
+        x[k] = uniq(list(x.get(k)) + list(y))
 
     unmerged = (map1 - map_common) | (seq1 - seq_common)
     for k in unmerged: