diff --git a/doc/api/console.markdown b/doc/api/console.markdown
index 62bccf43235..154b4bf6979 100644
--- a/doc/api/console.markdown
+++ b/doc/api/console.markdown
@@ -47,10 +47,10 @@ Same as `console.error`.
 ## console.dir(obj, [options])
 
 Uses `util.inspect` on `obj` and prints resulting string to stdout. This function
-bypasses any custom `inspect()` function on `obj`. An optional *options* object 
+bypasses any custom `inspect()` function on `obj`. An optional *options* object
 may be passed that alters certain aspects of the formatted string:
 
-- `showHidden` - if `true` then the object's non-enumerable properties will be 
+- `showHidden` - if `true` then the object's non-enumerable properties will be
 shown too. Defaults to `false`.
 
 - `depth` - tells `inspect` how many times to recurse while formatting the
diff --git a/lib/console.js b/lib/console.js
index 63dcbe17b1e..75ca0adeaad 100644
--- a/lib/console.js
+++ b/lib/console.js
@@ -66,12 +66,9 @@ Console.prototype.error = Console.prototype.warn;
 
 
 Console.prototype.dir = function(object, options) {
-  if (typeof options === 'object' && options !== null) {
-    options.customInspect = false;
-  } else {
-    options = { customInspect: false };
-  }
-  this._stdout.write(util.inspect(object, options) + '\n');
+  this._stdout.write(util.inspect(object, util._extend({
+    customInspect: false
+  }, options)) + '\n');
 };