diff --git a/packages/merge-patch/README.md b/packages/merge-patch/README.md
index 622a873..717bc49 100644
--- a/packages/merge-patch/README.md
+++ b/packages/merge-patch/README.md
@@ -69,6 +69,18 @@ person = mergePatch.apply(person, patch)
 
 [↑](#json8-merge-patch)
 
+### object creation
+
+When needed, `apply` creates objects with `null` prototype, you can choose the prototype to use with `{proto: Object}` as a third argument.
+
+[↑](#json8-merge-patch)
+
+### prototype pollution
+
+`apply` will throw with an error if [prototype pollution](https://github.com/HoLyVieR/prototype-pollution-nsec18) is attempted. You can allow for prototype pollution by passing `{pollute: true}` as a third argument.
+
+[↑](#json8-merge-patch)
+
 ### patch
 
 Alias for [apply](#apply) method.
diff --git a/packages/merge-patch/lib/apply.js b/packages/merge-patch/lib/apply.js
index 5415d2b..9fc9453 100644
--- a/packages/merge-patch/lib/apply.js
+++ b/packages/merge-patch/lib/apply.js
@@ -5,21 +5,29 @@ const OBJECT = "object";
 /**
  * Apply a JSON merge patch onto a document
  * https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc7396
- * @param  {Object} doc    - JSON object document
- * @param  {Object} patch  - JSON object patch
- * @return {Object}        - JSON object document
+ * @param  {Object}  doc                       - JSON object document
+ * @param  {Object}  patch                     - JSON object patch
+ * @param  {Object}  [options]                 - options
+ * @param  {Boolean} [options.pollute=false]   - Allow prototype pollution - throw otherwise
+ * @param  {Object}  [options.proto=null]      - Prototype to use for object creation
+ * @return {Object}                            - JSON object document
  */
-module.exports = function apply(doc, patch) {
+module.exports = function apply(doc, patch, options) {
   if (typeof patch !== OBJECT || patch === null || Array.isArray(patch)) {
     return patch;
   }
 
+  options = options || Object.create(null);
+
   if (typeof doc !== OBJECT || doc === null || Array.isArray(doc)) {
-    doc = Object.create(null);
+    doc = Object.create(options.proto || null);
   }
 
   const keys = Object.keys(patch);
   for (const key of keys) {
+    if (options.pollute !== true && key === "__proto__") {
+      throw new Error("Prototype pollution attempt");
+    }
     const v = patch[key];
     if (v === null) {
       delete doc[key];
diff --git a/packages/merge-patch/test/apply.js b/packages/merge-patch/test/apply.js
index 4a8b799..b9de955 100644
--- a/packages/merge-patch/test/apply.js
+++ b/packages/merge-patch/test/apply.js
@@ -51,23 +51,21 @@ describe("apply", () => {
     assert.deepEqual(doc, {});
   });
 
-  // https://github.com/lodash/lodash/pull/4337
+  // https://github.com/sonnyp/JSON8/issues/113
+  // https://github.com/HoLyVieR/prototype-pollution-nsec18
   it("prevents prototype pollution", () => {
     let doc = {};
-    const patch = { __proto__: { foobar: true } };
-    doc = apply(doc, patch);
+    const patch = JSON.parse('{ "__proto__": { "isAdmin": true }}');
 
-    assert.deepEqual(doc, {});
-  });
+    assert.throws(
+      () => {
+        doc = apply(doc, patch);
+      },
+      Error,
+      "Prototype pollution attempt"
+    );
 
-  // https://github.com/lodash/lodash/pull/4336
-  it("prevents constructor pollution", () => {
-    let doc = {};
-
-    const patch = { constructor: { foo: "bar" } };
-    doc = apply(doc, patch);
-    assert.equal("foo" in Object, false);
-    assert.equal(Object.foo, undefined);
-    assert.deepEqual(doc, patch);
+    assert.equal(doc.isAdmin, undefined);
+    assert.equal("isAdmin" in doc, false);
   });
 });