diff --git a/src/standard/configure.html b/src/standard/configure.html
index 8d4102a722..59bb36046a 100644
--- a/src/standard/configure.html
+++ b/src/standard/configure.html
@@ -114,8 +114,10 @@
     _configureProperties: function(properties, config) {
       for (var i in properties) {
         var c = properties[i];
-        // don't accept undefined values
-        if (c.value !== undefined) {
+        if (this[i] !== undefined) {
+          config[i] = this[i];
+          delete this[i];
+        } else if (c.value !== undefined) {
           var value = c.value;
           if (typeof value == 'function') {
             // pass existing config values (this._config) to value function
diff --git a/test/unit/configure-elements.html b/test/unit/configure-elements.html
index c3eee344ba..3778a2bd38 100644
--- a/test/unit/configure-elements.html
+++ b/test/unit/configure-elements.html
@@ -164,4 +164,28 @@
 
     });
   </script>
-</dom-module>
\ No newline at end of file
+</dom-module>
+
+<script>
+  Polymer({
+    is: 'x-configure-internal',
+    properties: {
+      shouldChange : {
+        observer: 'shouldChangeCallback',
+        type: String
+      }
+    },
+    shouldChangeCallback: function() {
+      this.innerHTML = this.shouldChange;
+    }
+  });
+</script>
+<script>
+  Polymer({
+    is: 'x-configure-external',
+    ready: function() {
+      var e = this.querySelector('x-configure-internal');
+      e.shouldChange = 'It works';
+    }
+  });
+</script>
diff --git a/test/unit/configure.html b/test/unit/configure.html
index 40381e8388..8143d2dc78 100644
--- a/test/unit/configure.html
+++ b/test/unit/configure.html
@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@
 
   <x-configure-host content="attr"></x-configure-host>
 
+  <x-configure-external>
+    <x-configure-internal></x-configure-internal>
+  </x-configure-external>
+
 <script>
 
   function testValueAndChangeHandler(e, value) {
@@ -87,6 +91,10 @@
       assert.equal(e.$.child.attr, undefined);
     });
 
+    test('direct property assignment overrides getters and setters', function() {
+      var e = document.querySelector('x-configure-internal');
+      assert.equal(e.innerHTML, 'It works');
+    });
   });
 
 </script>