diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 986110d..ab2a0d2 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "refs",
-  "version": "0.9.1",
+  "version": "0.9.2",
   "description": "Compile and merge YAML, JSON or INI config files together through file path references",
   "main": "index.js",
   "preferGlobal": true,
diff --git a/test/data/file-merge.json b/test/data/file-merge.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5e0aa33
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/data/file-merge.json
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+{
+  "test": {
+    "$merge": [{
+      "$ref": "./file.json"
+    }, {
+      "$ref": "./file-refs.json"
+    }]
+  }
+}
diff --git a/test/test-lib-json-processor.js b/test/test-lib-json-processor.js
index 5b53472..235ee70 100644
--- a/test/test-lib-json-processor.js
+++ b/test/test-lib-json-processor.js
@@ -101,6 +101,63 @@ describe('JSON Tests', () => {
       });
   });
 
+  it('process: should throw error the file with malformed merge settings', (done) => {
+    fs.writeFileSync(JSON_MERGE_FILE, '{"$merge":[{"one":true},{"two":true}]}', 'utf-8');
+    const jsonProcessor = require('../lib/processor-json');
+
+    jsonProcessor.process(JSON_MERGE_FILE)
+      .then(() => {
+        done('Rejection failed.');
+      })
+      .catch((err) => {
+        should(err).be.eql('Malformed merge setting, please check the input file.');
+        done();
+      });
+  });
+
+  it('process: should throw error the file with malformed merge settings with ref settings', (done) => {
+    fs.writeFileSync(JSON_MERGE_FILE, '{"$merge":[{"one":true},{"two":true}]}', 'utf-8');
+    const jsonContent = fs.readFileSync(JSON_FILE.replace('/tmp', `${__dirname}/data`), 'utf-8');
+    const jsonRefContent = fs.readFileSync(JSON_REF_FILE.replace('/tmp', `${__dirname}/data`), 'utf-8');
+    const jsonMergeContent = fs.readFileSync(JSON_MERGE_FILE.replace('/tmp', `${__dirname}/data`), 'utf-8');
+    fs.writeFileSync(JSON_FILE, jsonContent, 'utf-8');
+    fs.writeFileSync(JSON_REF_FILE, jsonRefContent, 'utf-8');
+    const jsonMergeContentMalformed = JSON.stringify(Object.assign({}, JSON.parse(jsonMergeContent), JSON.parse('{"another":{"$merge":[{"one":true},{"two":true}]}}')));
+    fs.writeFileSync(JSON_MERGE_FILE, jsonMergeContentMalformed, 'utf-8');
+    const jsonProcessor = require('../lib/processor-json');
+
+    jsonProcessor.process(JSON_MERGE_FILE)
+      .then(() => {
+        done('Rejection failed.');
+      })
+      .catch((err) => {
+        should(err).be.eql('Malformed merge setting, please check the input file.');
+        done();
+      });
+  });
+
+  it('process: should process the file with merge settings', (done) => {
+    const jsonContent = fs.readFileSync(JSON_FILE.replace('/tmp', `${__dirname}/data`), 'utf-8');
+    const jsonRefContent = fs.readFileSync(JSON_REF_FILE.replace('/tmp', `${__dirname}/data`), 'utf-8');
+    const jsonMergeContent = fs.readFileSync(JSON_MERGE_FILE.replace('/tmp', `${__dirname}/data`), 'utf-8');
+    fs.writeFileSync(JSON_FILE, jsonContent, 'utf-8');
+    fs.writeFileSync(JSON_REF_FILE, jsonRefContent, 'utf-8');
+    fs.writeFileSync(JSON_MERGE_FILE, jsonMergeContent, 'utf-8');
+    const jsonProcessor = require('../lib/processor-json');
+
+    jsonProcessor.process(JSON_MERGE_FILE)
+      .then((results) => {
+        should(results).be.eql({
+          dataString: '{"test":{"test":true,"another":{"test":true}}}',
+          key: undefined,
+        });
+        done();
+      })
+      .catch((err) => {
+        done(err);
+      });
+  });
+
   it('write: should throw error on write', (done) => {
     td.replace(fs, 'writeFile', (outputFile, data, option, cb) => cb('An error occurred.'));
     const jsonProcessor = require('../lib/processor-json');