diff --git a/hash.c b/hash.c
index d346a52..d50c488 100644
--- a/hash.c
+++ b/hash.c
@@ -1311,7 +1311,11 @@ rb_hash_initialize_copy(VALUE hash, VALUE hash2)
 
     Check_Type(hash2, T_HASH);
 
-    if (!RHASH_EMPTY_P(hash2)) {
+    if (RHASH_EMPTY_P(hash2)) {
+	if (RHASH(hash2)->ntbl)
+	    hash_tbl(hash)->type = RHASH(hash2)->ntbl->type;
+    }
+    else {
         RHASH(hash)->ntbl = st_copy(RHASH(hash2)->ntbl);
 	rb_hash_rehash(hash);
     }