diff --git a/lib/omniauth/strategies/openid_connect.rb b/lib/omniauth/strategies/openid_connect.rb
index 8c22ef92..48af8371 100644
--- a/lib/omniauth/strategies/openid_connect.rb
+++ b/lib/omniauth/strategies/openid_connect.rb
@@ -470,7 +470,7 @@ def verify_id_token!(id_token)
           client_id: client_options.identifier,
           nonce: params['nonce'].presence || stored_nonce
         }
-        verify_kwargs.merge!(audience: client_options.audience) if client_options.audience.present?
+        verify_kwargs[:audience] = client_options.audience if client_options.audience.present?
 
         decode_id_token(id_token).verify!(**verify_kwargs)
       end