diff --git a/lib/searchkick/index_options.rb b/lib/searchkick/index_options.rb
index 3866853..f949659 100644
--- a/lib/searchkick/index_options.rb
+++ b/lib/searchkick/index_options.rb
@@ -173,9 +173,6 @@ module Searchkick
         end
       end
 
-      # TODO do this last in Searchkick 5
-      settings = settings.symbolize_keys.deep_merge((options[:settings] || {}).symbolize_keys)
-
       add_synonyms(settings)
       add_search_synonyms(settings)
 
@@ -185,6 +182,9 @@ module Searchkick
         end
       end
 
+      # merge settings option last
+      settings = settings.symbolize_keys.deep_merge((options[:settings] || {}).symbolize_keys)
+
       settings
     end
 
--
libgit2 0.21.0