diff --git a/ampersand-state.js b/ampersand-state.js
index 79a742e..67394f2 100644
--- a/ampersand-state.js
+++ b/ampersand-state.js
@@ -142,7 +142,11 @@ _.extend(Base.prototype, BBEvents, {
             if (!def) {
                 // if this is a child model or collection
                 if (this._children[attr] || this._collections[attr]) {
-                    this[attr].set(newVal, options);
+                    if (this._collections[attr] && options.reset) {
+                        this[attr].reset(newVal);
+                    } else {
+                        this[attr].set(newVal, options);
+                    }
                     continue;
                 } else if (extraProperties === 'ignore') {
                     continue;