diff --git a/lib/jekyll.rb b/lib/jekyll.rb
index fad6c769..78572491 100644
--- a/lib/jekyll.rb
+++ b/lib/jekyll.rb
@@ -67,7 +67,6 @@ module Jekyll
     config = Configuration[Configuration::DEFAULTS]
     override = Configuration[override].stringify_keys
     config = config.read_config_files(config.config_files(override))
-    config = config.backwards_compatibilize
 
     # Merge DEFAULTS < _config.yml < override
     config.deep_merge(override).stringify_keys
diff --git a/lib/jekyll/configuration.rb b/lib/jekyll/configuration.rb
index 08b7dbf6..619b33ae 100644
--- a/lib/jekyll/configuration.rb
+++ b/lib/jekyll/configuration.rb
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ module Jekyll
         $stderr.puts "#{err}"
       end
 
-      configuration
+      configuration.backwards_compatibilize
     end
 
     # Public: Ensure the proper options are set in the configuration to allow for