diff --git a/lib/cfa/augeas_parser.rb b/lib/cfa/augeas_parser.rb
index fc3c42b..c49948d 100644
--- a/lib/cfa/augeas_parser.rb
+++ b/lib/cfa/augeas_parser.rb
@@ -323,6 +323,7 @@ def replace_entry(old_entry)
       @data.insert(index, new_entry)
       # the entry is not yet in the tree
       if old_entry[:operation] == :add
+        key = old_entry[:key]
         @data.delete_if { |d| d[:key] == key }
       else
         old_entry[:operation] = :remove
diff --git a/spec/augeas_tree_spec.rb b/spec/augeas_tree_spec.rb
index acbf767..e4624f2 100644
--- a/spec/augeas_tree_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/augeas_tree_spec.rb
@@ -70,6 +70,17 @@
       tree["new_cool_key"] = "Ever cooler value"
       expect(tree["new_cool_key"]).to eq "Ever cooler value"
     end
+
+    it "adds a new key and then overwrites it with a different kind" do
+      tree["shopping_cart"] = "orange"
+
+      subtree = CFA::AugeasTree.new
+      subtree["item"] = "orange"
+      subtree["note"] = "paint, not fruit"
+      tree["shopping_cart"] = subtree
+
+      expect(tree["shopping_cart"]["item"]).to eq "orange"
+    end
   end
 
   describe "#add" do