diff --git a/cmd/helm/get_values.go b/cmd/helm/get_values.go
index 837301e88..b13d0ba75 100644
--- a/cmd/helm/get_values.go
+++ b/cmd/helm/get_values.go
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 
+	"github.com/ghodss/yaml"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 
 	"k8s.io/helm/cmd/helm/require"
@@ -81,6 +82,11 @@ func (o *getValuesOptions) run(out io.Writer) error {
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	fmt.Fprintln(out, string(res.Config))
+	resConfig, err := yaml.Marshal(res.Config)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	fmt.Fprintln(out, string(resConfig))
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/cmd/helm/lint.go b/cmd/helm/lint.go
index dd71677b5..756ed4261 100644
--- a/cmd/helm/lint.go
+++ b/cmd/helm/lint.go
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ func (o *lintOptions) run(out io.Writer) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func lintChart(path string, vals []byte, namespace string, strict bool) (support.Linter, error) {
+func lintChart(path string, vals map[string]interface{}, namespace string, strict bool) (support.Linter, error) {
 	var chartPath string
 	linter := support.Linter{}
 
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ func lintChart(path string, vals []byte, namespace string, strict bool) (support
 	return lint.All(chartPath, vals, namespace, strict), nil
 }
 
-func (o *lintOptions) vals() ([]byte, error) {
+func (o *lintOptions) vals() (map[string]interface{}, error) {
 	base := map[string]interface{}{}
 
 	// User specified a values files via -f/--values
@@ -173,11 +173,11 @@ func (o *lintOptions) vals() ([]byte, error) {
 		currentMap := map[string]interface{}{}
 		bytes, err := ioutil.ReadFile(filePath)
 		if err != nil {
-			return []byte{}, err
+			return base, err
 		}
 
 		if err := yaml.Unmarshal(bytes, &currentMap); err != nil {
-			return []byte{}, errors.Wrapf(err, "failed to parse %s", filePath)
+			return base, errors.Wrapf(err, "failed to parse %s", filePath)
 		}
 		// Merge with the previous map
 		base = mergeValues(base, currentMap)
@@ -186,16 +186,16 @@ func (o *lintOptions) vals() ([]byte, error) {
 	// User specified a value via --set
 	for _, value := range o.values {
 		if err := strvals.ParseInto(value, base); err != nil {
-			return []byte{}, errors.Wrap(err, "failed parsing --set data")
+			return base, errors.Wrap(err, "failed parsing --set data")
 		}
 	}
 
 	// User specified a value via --set-string
 	for _, value := range o.stringValues {
 		if err := strvals.ParseIntoString(value, base); err != nil {
-			return []byte{}, errors.Wrap(err, "failed parsing --set-string data")
+			return base, errors.Wrap(err, "failed parsing --set-string data")
 		}
 	}
 
-	return yaml.Marshal(base)
+	return base, nil
 }
diff --git a/cmd/helm/lint_test.go b/cmd/helm/lint_test.go
index 1609debbe..da7bdb70a 100644
--- a/cmd/helm/lint_test.go
+++ b/cmd/helm/lint_test.go
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 var (
-	values                       = []byte{}
+	values                       = make(map[string]interface{})
 	namespace                    = "testNamespace"
 	strict                       = false
 	archivedChartPath            = "testdata/testcharts/compressedchart-0.1.0.tgz"
diff --git a/cmd/helm/options.go b/cmd/helm/options.go
index 33dda1a79..8d68cf214 100644
--- a/cmd/helm/options.go
+++ b/cmd/helm/options.go
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ func (o *valuesOptions) addFlags(fs *pflag.FlagSet) {
 
 // mergeValues merges values from files specified via -f/--values and
 // directly via --set or --set-string, marshaling them to YAML
-func (o *valuesOptions) mergedValues() ([]byte, error) {
+func (o *valuesOptions) mergedValues() (map[string]interface{}, error) {
 	base := map[string]interface{}{}
 
 	// User specified a values files via -f/--values
@@ -59,11 +59,11 @@ func (o *valuesOptions) mergedValues() ([]byte, error) {
 
 		bytes, err := readFile(filePath)
 		if err != nil {
-			return []byte{}, err
+			return base, err
 		}
 
 		if err := yaml.Unmarshal(bytes, &currentMap); err != nil {
-			return []byte{}, errors.Wrapf(err, "failed to parse %s", filePath)
+			return base, errors.Wrapf(err, "failed to parse %s", filePath)
 		}
 		// Merge with the previous map
 		base = mergeValues(base, currentMap)
@@ -72,18 +72,18 @@ func (o *valuesOptions) mergedValues() ([]byte, error) {
 	// User specified a value via --set
 	for _, value := range o.values {
 		if err := strvals.ParseInto(value, base); err != nil {
-			return []byte{}, errors.Wrap(err, "failed parsing --set data")
+			return base, errors.Wrap(err, "failed parsing --set data")
 		}
 	}
 
 	// User specified a value via --set-string
 	for _, value := range o.stringValues {
 		if err := strvals.ParseIntoString(value, base); err != nil {
-			return []byte{}, errors.Wrap(err, "failed parsing --set-string data")
+			return base, errors.Wrap(err, "failed parsing --set-string data")
 		}
 	}
 
-	return yaml.Marshal(base)
+	return base, nil
 }
 
 // readFile load a file from stdin, the local directory, or a remote file with a url.
diff --git a/cmd/helm/printer.go b/cmd/helm/printer.go
index aa20590ca..8cd013075 100644
--- a/cmd/helm/printer.go
+++ b/cmd/helm/printer.go
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ import (
 	"text/template"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/ghodss/yaml"
+
 	"k8s.io/helm/pkg/chartutil"
 	"k8s.io/helm/pkg/hapi/release"
 )
@@ -51,15 +53,20 @@ func printRelease(out io.Writer, rel *release.Release) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	cfgStr, err := cfg.YAML()
+	computed, err := cfg.YAML()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	config, err := yaml.Marshal(rel.Config)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
 	data := map[string]interface{}{
 		"Release":        rel,
-		"Config":         string(rel.Config),
-		"ComputedValues": cfgStr,
+		"Config":         string(config),
+		"ComputedValues": computed,
 		"ReleaseDate":    rel.Info.LastDeployed.Format(time.ANSIC),
 	}
 	return tpl(printReleaseTemplate, data, out)
diff --git a/cmd/helm/template.go b/cmd/helm/template.go
index 04dffa517..44285cb1a 100644
--- a/cmd/helm/template.go
+++ b/cmd/helm/template.go
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/Masterminds/semver"
-	"github.com/ghodss/yaml"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 
@@ -167,11 +166,7 @@ func (o *templateOptions) run(out io.Writer) error {
 		Name: o.releaseName,
 	}
 
-	var m map[string]interface{}
-	if err := yaml.Unmarshal(config, &m); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	if err := chartutil.ProcessDependencies(c, m); err != nil {
+	if err := chartutil.ProcessDependencies(c, config); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
diff --git a/cmd/helm/testdata/output/get-release.txt b/cmd/helm/testdata/output/get-release.txt
index 844712011..2c6127f33 100644
--- a/cmd/helm/testdata/output/get-release.txt
+++ b/cmd/helm/testdata/output/get-release.txt
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@ REVISION: 1
 RELEASED: Fri Sep  2 22:04:05 1977
 CHART: foo-0.1.0-beta.1
 USER-SUPPLIED VALUES:
-name: "value"
+name: value
+
 COMPUTED VALUES:
 name: value
 
diff --git a/cmd/helm/testdata/output/get-values.txt b/cmd/helm/testdata/output/get-values.txt
index e6ad584a9..de601163c 100644
--- a/cmd/helm/testdata/output/get-values.txt
+++ b/cmd/helm/testdata/output/get-values.txt
@@ -1 +1,2 @@
-name: "value"
+name: value
+
diff --git a/pkg/chartutil/dependencies.go b/pkg/chartutil/dependencies.go
index 4c32a6b79..f87983adb 100644
--- a/pkg/chartutil/dependencies.go
+++ b/pkg/chartutil/dependencies.go
@@ -19,8 +19,6 @@ import (
 	"log"
 	"strings"
 
-	"github.com/ghodss/yaml"
-
 	"k8s.io/helm/pkg/chart"
 	"k8s.io/helm/pkg/version"
 )
@@ -166,8 +164,7 @@ Loop:
 	for _, lr := range c.Metadata.Dependencies {
 		lr.Enabled = true
 	}
-	b, _ := yaml.Marshal(v)
-	cvals, err := CoalesceValues(c, b)
+	cvals, err := CoalesceValues(c, v)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -227,7 +224,7 @@ func processImportValues(c *chart.Chart) error {
 		return nil
 	}
 	// combine chart values and empty config to get Values
-	cvals, err := CoalesceValues(c, []byte{})
+	cvals, err := CoalesceValues(c, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -253,7 +250,7 @@ func processImportValues(c *chart.Chart) error {
 					continue
 				}
 				// create value map from child to be merged into parent
-				b = coalesceTables(cvals, pathToMap(parent, vv.AsMap()))
+				b = CoalesceTables(cvals, pathToMap(parent, vv.AsMap()))
 			case string:
 				child := "exports." + iv
 				outiv = append(outiv, map[string]string{
@@ -265,7 +262,7 @@ func processImportValues(c *chart.Chart) error {
 					log.Printf("Warning: ImportValues missing table: %v", err)
 					continue
 				}
-				b = coalesceTables(b, vm.AsMap())
+				b = CoalesceTables(b, vm.AsMap())
 			}
 		}
 		// set our formatted import values
@@ -273,7 +270,7 @@ func processImportValues(c *chart.Chart) error {
 	}
 
 	// set the new values
-	c.Values = coalesceTables(b, cvals)
+	c.Values = CoalesceTables(b, cvals)
 
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/pkg/chartutil/values.go b/pkg/chartutil/values.go
index 957fc92a0..e9aad0866 100644
--- a/pkg/chartutil/values.go
+++ b/pkg/chartutil/values.go
@@ -142,21 +142,14 @@ func ReadValuesFile(filename string) (Values, error) {
 //	- Scalar values and arrays are replaced, maps are merged
 //	- A chart has access to all of the variables for it, as well as all of
 //		the values destined for its dependencies.
-func CoalesceValues(chrt *chart.Chart, vals []byte) (Values, error) {
-	var err error
-	cvals := Values{}
-	// Parse values if not nil. We merge these at the top level because
-	// the passed-in values are in the same namespace as the parent chart.
-	if vals != nil {
-		cvals, err = ReadValues(vals)
-		if err != nil {
-			return cvals, err
-		}
+func CoalesceValues(chrt *chart.Chart, vals map[string]interface{}) (Values, error) {
+	if vals == nil {
+		vals = make(map[string]interface{})
 	}
-	if _, err := coalesce(chrt, cvals); err != nil {
-		return cvals, err
+	if _, err := coalesce(chrt, vals); err != nil {
+		return vals, err
 	}
-	return coalesceDeps(chrt, cvals)
+	return coalesceDeps(chrt, vals)
 }
 
 // coalesce coalesces the dest values and the chart values, giving priority to the dest values.
@@ -229,7 +222,7 @@ func coalesceGlobals(dest, src map[string]interface{}) {
 				} else {
 					// Basically, we reverse order of coalesce here to merge
 					// top-down.
-					coalesceTables(vv, destvmap)
+					CoalesceTables(vv, destvmap)
 					dg[key] = vv
 					continue
 				}
@@ -273,7 +266,7 @@ func coalesceValues(c *chart.Chart, v map[string]interface{}) {
 				}
 				// Because v has higher precedence than nv, dest values override src
 				// values.
-				coalesceTables(dest, src)
+				CoalesceTables(dest, src)
 			}
 		} else {
 			// If the key is not in v, copy it from nv.
@@ -285,7 +278,10 @@ func coalesceValues(c *chart.Chart, v map[string]interface{}) {
 // coalesceTables merges a source map into a destination map.
 //
 // dest is considered authoritative.
-func coalesceTables(dst, src map[string]interface{}) map[string]interface{} {
+func CoalesceTables(dst, src map[string]interface{}) map[string]interface{} {
+	if dst == nil || src == nil {
+		return src
+	}
 	// Because dest has higher precedence than src, dest values override src
 	// values.
 	for key, val := range src {
@@ -293,17 +289,14 @@ func coalesceTables(dst, src map[string]interface{}) map[string]interface{} {
 			if innerdst, ok := dst[key]; !ok {
 				dst[key] = val
 			} else if istable(innerdst) {
-				coalesceTables(innerdst.(map[string]interface{}), val.(map[string]interface{}))
+				CoalesceTables(innerdst.(map[string]interface{}), val.(map[string]interface{}))
 			} else {
 				log.Printf("warning: cannot overwrite table with non table for %s (%v)", key, val)
 			}
-			continue
 		} else if dv, ok := dst[key]; ok && istable(dv) {
 			log.Printf("warning: destination for %s is a table. Ignoring non-table value %v", key, val)
-			continue
 		} else if !ok { // <- ok is still in scope from preceding conditional.
 			dst[key] = val
-			continue
 		}
 	}
 	return dst
@@ -320,7 +313,7 @@ type ReleaseOptions struct {
 // ToRenderValues composes the struct from the data coming from the Releases, Charts and Values files
 //
 // This takes both ReleaseOptions and Capabilities to merge into the render values.
-func ToRenderValues(chrt *chart.Chart, chrtVals []byte, options ReleaseOptions, caps *Capabilities) (Values, error) {
+func ToRenderValues(chrt *chart.Chart, chrtVals map[string]interface{}, options ReleaseOptions, caps *Capabilities) (Values, error) {
 
 	top := map[string]interface{}{
 		"Release": map[string]interface{}{
diff --git a/pkg/chartutil/values_test.go b/pkg/chartutil/values_test.go
index 7e189bbfd..837c5056b 100644
--- a/pkg/chartutil/values_test.go
+++ b/pkg/chartutil/values_test.go
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ water:
 	}
 }
 
-func TestToRenderValuesCaps(t *testing.T) {
+func TestToRenderValues(t *testing.T) {
 
 	chartValues := map[string]interface{}{
 		"name": "al Rashid",
@@ -80,12 +80,13 @@ func TestToRenderValuesCaps(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
 
-	overideValues := `
-name: Haroun
-where:
-  city: Baghdad
-  date: 809 CE
-`
+	overideValues := map[string]interface{}{
+		"name": "Haroun",
+		"where": map[string]interface{}{
+			"city": "Baghdad",
+			"date": "809 CE",
+		},
+	}
 
 	c := &chart.Chart{
 		Metadata:  &chart.Metadata{Name: "test"},
@@ -98,7 +99,6 @@ where:
 	c.AddDependency(&chart.Chart{
 		Metadata: &chart.Metadata{Name: "where"},
 	})
-	v := []byte(overideValues)
 
 	o := ReleaseOptions{
 		Name:      "Seven Voyages",
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ where:
 		KubeVersion: &kversion.Info{Major: "1"},
 	}
 
-	res, err := ToRenderValues(c, v, o, caps)
+	res, err := ToRenderValues(c, overideValues, o, caps)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ func ttpl(tpl string, v map[string]interface{}) (string, error) {
 }
 
 // ref: http://www.yaml.org/spec/1.2/spec.html#id2803362
-var testCoalesceValuesYaml = `
+var testCoalesceValuesYaml = []byte(`
 top: yup
 bottom: null
 right: Null
@@ -286,12 +286,17 @@ pequod:
       sail: true
   ahab:
     scope: whale
-`
+`)
 
 func TestCoalesceValues(t *testing.T) {
 	c := loadChart(t, "testdata/moby")
 
-	v, err := CoalesceValues(c, []byte(testCoalesceValuesYaml))
+	vals, err := ReadValues(testCoalesceValuesYaml)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	v, err := CoalesceValues(c, vals)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -366,7 +371,7 @@ func TestCoalesceTables(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// What we expect is that anything in dst overrides anything in src, but that
 	// otherwise the values are coalesced.
-	coalesceTables(dst, src)
+	CoalesceTables(dst, src)
 
 	if dst["name"] != "Ishmael" {
 		t.Errorf("Unexpected name: %s", dst["name"])
diff --git a/pkg/engine/engine_test.go b/pkg/engine/engine_test.go
index de73a8b8e..0c02ef24f 100644
--- a/pkg/engine/engine_test.go
+++ b/pkg/engine/engine_test.go
@@ -100,12 +100,13 @@ func TestRender(t *testing.T) {
 		Values: map[string]interface{}{"outer": "DEFAULT", "inner": "DEFAULT"},
 	}
 
-	vals := []byte(`
-outer: spouter
-inner: inn
-global:
-  callme: Ishmael
-`)
+	vals := map[string]interface{}{
+		"outer": "spouter",
+		"inner": "inn",
+		"global": map[string]interface{}{
+			"callme": "Ishmael",
+		},
+	}
 
 	e := New()
 	v, err := chartutil.CoalesceValues(c, vals)
@@ -302,13 +303,17 @@ func TestRenderNestedValues(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	outer.AddDependency(inner)
 
-	injValues := []byte(`
-what: rosebuds
-herrick:
-  deepest:
-    what: flower
-global:
-  when: to-day`)
+	injValues := map[string]interface{}{
+		"what": "rosebuds",
+		"herrick": map[string]interface{}{
+			"deepest": map[string]interface{}{
+				"what": "flower",
+			},
+		},
+		"global": map[string]interface{}{
+			"when": "to-day",
+		},
+	}
 
 	tmp, err := chartutil.CoalesceValues(outer, injValues)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/hapi/release/release.go b/pkg/hapi/release/release.go
index 9477369c5..a52e39566 100644
--- a/pkg/hapi/release/release.go
+++ b/pkg/hapi/release/release.go
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ type Release struct {
 	Chart *chart.Chart `json:"chart,omitempty"`
 	// Config is the set of extra Values added to the chart.
 	// These values override the default values inside of the chart.
-	Config []byte `json:"config,omitempty"`
+	Config map[string]interface{} `json:"config,omitempty"`
 	// Manifest is the string representation of the rendered template.
 	Manifest string `json:"manifest,omitempty"`
 	// Hooks are all of the hooks declared for this release.
diff --git a/pkg/hapi/tiller.go b/pkg/hapi/tiller.go
index dbd1580b0..85ea3e64e 100644
--- a/pkg/hapi/tiller.go
+++ b/pkg/hapi/tiller.go
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ type UpdateReleaseRequest struct {
 	// Chart is the protobuf representation of a chart.
 	Chart *chart.Chart `json:"chart,omitempty"`
 	// Values is a string containing (unparsed) YAML values.
-	Values []byte `json:"values,omitempty"`
+	Values map[string]interface{} `json:"values,omitempty"`
 	// dry_run, if true, will run through the release logic, but neither create
 	DryRun bool `json:"dry_run,omitempty"`
 	// DisableHooks causes the server to skip running any hooks for the upgrade.
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ type InstallReleaseRequest struct {
 	// Chart is the protobuf representation of a chart.
 	Chart *chart.Chart `json:"chart,omitempty"`
 	// Values is a string containing (unparsed) YAML values.
-	Values []byte `json:"values,omitempty"`
+	Values map[string]interface{} `json:"values,omitempty"`
 	// DryRun, if true, will run through the release logic, but neither create
 	// a release object nor deploy to Kubernetes. The release object returned
 	// in the response will be fake.
diff --git a/pkg/helm/client.go b/pkg/helm/client.go
index 0dea035a1..aa4e1fab0 100644
--- a/pkg/helm/client.go
+++ b/pkg/helm/client.go
@@ -17,8 +17,6 @@ limitations under the License.
 package helm // import "k8s.io/helm/pkg/helm"
 
 import (
-	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v2"
-
 	"k8s.io/helm/pkg/chart"
 	"k8s.io/helm/pkg/chart/loader"
 	"k8s.io/helm/pkg/chartutil"
@@ -95,10 +93,7 @@ func (c *Client) InstallReleaseFromChart(chart *chart.Chart, ns string, opts ...
 	if err := reqOpts.runBefore(req); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	var m map[string]interface{}
-	yaml.Unmarshal(req.Values, &m)
-	err := chartutil.ProcessDependencies(req.Chart, m)
-	if err != nil {
+	if err := chartutil.ProcessDependencies(req.Chart, req.Values); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	return c.tiller.InstallRelease(req)
@@ -162,11 +157,7 @@ func (c *Client) UpdateReleaseFromChart(rlsName string, chart *chart.Chart, opts
 	if err := reqOpts.runBefore(req); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	var m map[string]interface{}
-	if err := yaml.Unmarshal(req.Values, &m); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	if err := chartutil.ProcessDependencies(req.Chart, m); err != nil {
+	if err := chartutil.ProcessDependencies(req.Chart, req.Values); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	return c.tiller.UpdateRelease(req)
diff --git a/pkg/helm/fake.go b/pkg/helm/fake.go
index 2228cc485..80b850a6b 100644
--- a/pkg/helm/fake.go
+++ b/pkg/helm/fake.go
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ func ReleaseMock(opts *MockReleaseOptions) *release.Release {
 			Description:   "Release mock",
 		},
 		Chart:     ch,
-		Config:    []byte(`name: "value"`),
+		Config:    map[string]interface{}{"name": "value"},
 		Version:   version,
 		Namespace: namespace,
 		Hooks: []*release.Hook{
diff --git a/pkg/helm/helm_test.go b/pkg/helm/helm_test.go
index d35ad05b4..50cd821ad 100644
--- a/pkg/helm/helm_test.go
+++ b/pkg/helm/helm_test.go
@@ -101,12 +101,10 @@ func TestInstallRelease_VerifyOptions(t *testing.T) {
 	var dryRun = true
 	var chartName = "alpine"
 	var chartPath = filepath.Join(chartsDir, chartName)
-	var overrides = []byte("key1=value1,key2=value2")
 
 	// Expected InstallReleaseRequest message
 	exp := &hapi.InstallReleaseRequest{
 		Chart:        loadChart(t, chartName),
-		Values:       overrides,
 		DryRun:       dryRun,
 		Name:         releaseName,
 		DisableHooks: disableHooks,
@@ -115,7 +113,6 @@ func TestInstallRelease_VerifyOptions(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Options used in InstallRelease
 	ops := []InstallOption{
-		ValueOverrides(overrides),
 		InstallDryRun(dryRun),
 		ReleaseName(releaseName),
 		InstallReuseName(reuseName),
@@ -191,14 +188,12 @@ func TestUpdateRelease_VerifyOptions(t *testing.T) {
 	var chartPath = filepath.Join(chartsDir, chartName)
 	var releaseName = "test"
 	var disableHooks = true
-	var overrides = []byte("key1=value1,key2=value2")
 	var dryRun = false
 
 	// Expected UpdateReleaseRequest message
 	exp := &hapi.UpdateReleaseRequest{
 		Name:         releaseName,
 		Chart:        loadChart(t, chartName),
-		Values:       overrides,
 		DryRun:       dryRun,
 		DisableHooks: disableHooks,
 	}
@@ -206,7 +201,6 @@ func TestUpdateRelease_VerifyOptions(t *testing.T) {
 	// Options used in UpdateRelease
 	ops := []UpdateOption{
 		UpgradeDryRun(dryRun),
-		UpdateValueOverrides(overrides),
 		UpgradeDisableHooks(disableHooks),
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/helm/option.go b/pkg/helm/option.go
index e0d1cda6a..ecc164031 100644
--- a/pkg/helm/option.go
+++ b/pkg/helm/option.go
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ func ReleaseListStatuses(statuses []release.ReleaseStatus) ReleaseListOption {
 type InstallOption func(*options)
 
 // ValueOverrides specifies a list of values to include when installing.
-func ValueOverrides(raw []byte) InstallOption {
+func ValueOverrides(raw map[string]interface{}) InstallOption {
 	return func(opts *options) {
 		opts.instReq.Values = raw
 	}
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ func RollbackWait(wait bool) RollbackOption {
 }
 
 // UpdateValueOverrides specifies a list of values to include when upgrading
-func UpdateValueOverrides(raw []byte) UpdateOption {
+func UpdateValueOverrides(raw map[string]interface{}) UpdateOption {
 	return func(opts *options) {
 		opts.updateReq.Values = raw
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/lint/lint.go b/pkg/lint/lint.go
index aa8df5814..534085cd1 100644
--- a/pkg/lint/lint.go
+++ b/pkg/lint/lint.go
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 // All runs all of the available linters on the given base directory.
-func All(basedir string, values []byte, namespace string, strict bool) support.Linter {
+func All(basedir string, values map[string]interface{}, namespace string, strict bool) support.Linter {
 	// Using abs path to get directory context
 	chartDir, _ := filepath.Abs(basedir)
 
diff --git a/pkg/lint/lint_test.go b/pkg/lint/lint_test.go
index 2f0b88526..f0747a294 100644
--- a/pkg/lint/lint_test.go
+++ b/pkg/lint/lint_test.go
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 )
 
-var values = []byte{}
+var values map[string]interface{}
 
 const namespace = "testNamespace"
 const strict = false
diff --git a/pkg/lint/rules/template.go b/pkg/lint/rules/template.go
index 6ee578aff..2acf63168 100644
--- a/pkg/lint/rules/template.go
+++ b/pkg/lint/rules/template.go
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 // Templates lints the templates in the Linter.
-func Templates(linter *support.Linter, values []byte, namespace string, strict bool) {
+func Templates(linter *support.Linter, values map[string]interface{}, namespace string, strict bool) {
 	path := "templates/"
 	templatesPath := filepath.Join(linter.ChartDir, path)
 
@@ -56,13 +56,8 @@ func Templates(linter *support.Linter, values []byte, namespace string, strict b
 	if err != nil {
 		return
 	}
-	// convert our values back into config
-	yvals, err := yaml.Marshal(cvals)
-	if err != nil {
-		return
-	}
 	caps := chartutil.DefaultCapabilities
-	valuesToRender, err := chartutil.ToRenderValues(chart, yvals, options, caps)
+	valuesToRender, err := chartutil.ToRenderValues(chart, cvals, options, caps)
 	if err != nil {
 		// FIXME: This seems to generate a duplicate, but I can't find where the first
 		// error is coming from.
diff --git a/pkg/lint/rules/template_test.go b/pkg/lint/rules/template_test.go
index 41a7384e7..8731cf96e 100644
--- a/pkg/lint/rules/template_test.go
+++ b/pkg/lint/rules/template_test.go
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ func TestValidateAllowedExtension(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-var values = []byte("nameOverride: ''\nhttpPort: 80")
+var values = map[string]interface{}{"nameOverride": "", "httpPort": 80}
 
 const namespace = "testNamespace"
 const strict = false
diff --git a/pkg/releaseutil/sorter_test.go b/pkg/releaseutil/sorter_test.go
index 873a0de72..5198ce0a9 100644
--- a/pkg/releaseutil/sorter_test.go
+++ b/pkg/releaseutil/sorter_test.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ var releases = []*rspb.Release{
 }
 
 func tsRelease(name string, vers int, dur time.Duration, status rspb.ReleaseStatus) *rspb.Release {
-	tmsp := time.Now().Add(time.Duration(dur))
+	tmsp := time.Now().Add(dur)
 	info := &rspb.Info{Status: status, LastDeployed: tmsp}
 	return &rspb.Release{
 		Name:    name,
diff --git a/pkg/tiller/release_server.go b/pkg/tiller/release_server.go
index 65e1c4964..d64803861 100644
--- a/pkg/tiller/release_server.go
+++ b/pkg/tiller/release_server.go
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
-	"gopkg.in/yaml.v2"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/discovery"
 
@@ -126,31 +125,14 @@ func (s *ReleaseServer) reuseValues(req *hapi.UpdateReleaseRequest, current *rel
 			return errors.Wrap(err, "failed to rebuild old values")
 		}
 
-		// merge new values with current
-		b := append(current.Config, '\n')
-		req.Values = append(b, req.Values...)
+		req.Values = chartutil.CoalesceTables(current.Config, req.Values)
 
 		req.Chart.Values = oldVals
 
-		// yaml unmarshal and marshal to remove duplicate keys
-		y := map[string]interface{}{}
-		if err := yaml.Unmarshal(req.Values, &y); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-		data, err := yaml.Marshal(y)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-
-		req.Values = data
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	// If req.Values is empty, but current.Config is not, copy current into the
-	// request.
-	if (len(req.Values) == 0 || bytes.Equal(req.Values, []byte("{}\n"))) &&
-		len(current.Config) > 0 &&
-		!bytes.Equal(current.Config, []byte("{}\n")) {
+	if len(req.Values) == 0 && len(current.Config) > 0 {
 		s.Log("copying values from %s (v%d) to new release.", current.Name, current.Version)
 		req.Values = current.Config
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/tiller/release_server_test.go b/pkg/tiller/release_server_test.go
index cec06a35c..0c8de78b6 100644
--- a/pkg/tiller/release_server_test.go
+++ b/pkg/tiller/release_server_test.go
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ func namedReleaseStub(name string, status release.ReleaseStatus) *release.Releas
 			Description:   "Named Release Stub",
 		},
 		Chart:   chartStub(),
-		Config:  []byte(`name: value`),
+		Config:  map[string]interface{}{"name": "value"},
 		Version: 1,
 		Hooks: []*release.Hook{
 			{
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@ func releaseWithKeepStub(rlsName string) *release.Release {
 			Status:        release.StatusDeployed,
 		},
 		Chart:    ch,
-		Config:   []byte(`name: value`),
+		Config:   map[string]interface{}{"name": "value"},
 		Version:  1,
 		Manifest: manifestWithKeep,
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/tiller/release_update_test.go b/pkg/tiller/release_update_test.go
index 178522d08..f0c480096 100644
--- a/pkg/tiller/release_update_test.go
+++ b/pkg/tiller/release_update_test.go
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ limitations under the License.
 package tiller
 
 import (
-	"bytes"
 	"reflect"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
@@ -82,7 +81,7 @@ func TestUpdateRelease(t *testing.T) {
 
 	if res.Config == nil {
 		t.Errorf("Got release without config: %#v", res)
-	} else if !bytes.Equal(res.Config, rel.Config) {
+	} else if len(res.Config) != len(rel.Config) {
 		t.Errorf("Expected release values %q, got %q", rel.Config, res.Config)
 	}
 
@@ -139,7 +138,7 @@ func TestUpdateRelease_ComplexReuseValues(t *testing.T) {
 				{Name: "templates/hooks", Data: []byte(manifestWithHook)},
 			},
 		},
-		Values: []byte("foo: bar"),
+		Values: map[string]interface{}{"foo": "bar"},
 	}
 
 	t.Log("Running Install release with foo: bar override")
@@ -165,9 +164,8 @@ func TestUpdateRelease_ComplexReuseValues(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("Failed updated: %s", err)
 	}
 
-	expect := "foo: bar"
-	if rel.Config != nil && !bytes.Equal(rel.Config, []byte(expect)) {
-		t.Errorf("Expected chart values to be %q, got %q", expect, string(rel.Config))
+	if rel.Config != nil && rel.Config["foo"] != "bar" {
+		t.Errorf("Expected chart value 'foo' = 'bar', got %s", rel.Config)
 	}
 
 	req = &hapi.UpdateReleaseRequest{
@@ -179,7 +177,7 @@ func TestUpdateRelease_ComplexReuseValues(t *testing.T) {
 				{Name: "templates/hooks", Data: []byte(manifestWithUpgradeHooks)},
 			},
 		},
-		Values:      []byte("foo2: bar2"),
+		Values:      map[string]interface{}{"foo2": "bar2"},
 		ReuseValues: true,
 	}
 
@@ -190,9 +188,8 @@ func TestUpdateRelease_ComplexReuseValues(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	// This should have the newly-passed overrides.
-	expect = "foo: bar\nfoo2: bar2\n"
-	if rel.Config != nil && !bytes.Equal(rel.Config, []byte(expect)) {
-		t.Errorf("Expected request config to be %q, got %q", expect, string(rel.Config))
+	if len(rel.Config) != 2 && rel.Config["foo2"] != "bar2" {
+		t.Errorf("Expected chart value 'foo2' = 'bar2', got %s", rel.Config)
 	}
 
 	req = &hapi.UpdateReleaseRequest{
@@ -204,7 +201,7 @@ func TestUpdateRelease_ComplexReuseValues(t *testing.T) {
 				{Name: "templates/hooks", Data: []byte(manifestWithUpgradeHooks)},
 			},
 		},
-		Values:      []byte("foo: baz"),
+		Values:      map[string]interface{}{"foo": "baz"},
 		ReuseValues: true,
 	}
 
@@ -213,9 +210,8 @@ func TestUpdateRelease_ComplexReuseValues(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Failed updated: %s", err)
 	}
-	expect = "foo: baz\nfoo2: bar2\n"
-	if rel.Config != nil && !bytes.Equal(rel.Config, []byte(expect)) {
-		t.Errorf("Expected chart values to be %q, got %q", expect, rel.Config)
+	if len(rel.Config) != 2 && rel.Config["foo"] != "baz" {
+		t.Errorf("Expected chart value 'foo' = 'baz', got %s", rel.Config)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -235,7 +231,7 @@ func TestUpdateRelease_ReuseValues(t *testing.T) {
 			// Since reuseValues is set, this should get ignored.
 			Values: map[string]interface{}{"foo": "bar"},
 		},
-		Values:      []byte("name2: val2"),
+		Values:      map[string]interface{}{"name2": "val2"},
 		ReuseValues: true,
 	}
 	res, err := rs.UpdateRelease(req)
@@ -248,7 +244,7 @@ func TestUpdateRelease_ReuseValues(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	// This should have the newly-passed overrides and any other computed values. `name: value` comes from release Config via releaseStub()
 	expect := "name: value\nname2: val2\n"
-	if res.Config != nil && !bytes.Equal(res.Config, []byte(expect)) {
+	if len(res.Config) != 2 || res.Config["name"] != "value" || res.Config["name2"] != "val2" {
 		t.Errorf("Expected request config to be %q, got %q", expect, res.Config)
 	}
 	compareStoredAndReturnedRelease(t, *rs, res)