diff --git a/cocos2dx/CCConfiguration.cpp b/cocos2dx/CCConfiguration.cpp
index ccbb5afe77..154efb8ceb 100644
--- a/cocos2dx/CCConfiguration.cpp
+++ b/cocos2dx/CCConfiguration.cpp
@@ -282,9 +282,38 @@ void CCConfiguration::loadConfigFile( const char *filename )
 	CCDictionary *dict = CCDictionary::createWithContentsOfFile(filename);
 	CCAssert(dict, "cannot create dictionary");
 
+	// search for metadata
+	bool metadata_ok = false;
+	CCObject *metadata = dict->objectForKey("metadata");
+	if( metadata && dynamic_cast<CCDictionary*>(metadata) ) {
+		CCObject *format_o = static_cast<CCDictionary*>(metadata)->objectForKey("format");
+
+		// XXX: cocos2d-x returns CCStrings when importing from .plist. This bug will be addressed in cocos2d-x v3.x
+		if( format_o && dynamic_cast<CCString*>(format_o) ) {
+			int format = static_cast<CCString*>(format_o)->intValue();
+
+			// Support format: 1
+			if( format == 1 ) {
+				metadata_ok = true;
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	if( ! metadata_ok ) {
+		CCLOG("Invalid config format for file: %s", filename);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	CCObject *data = dict->objectForKey("data");
+	if( !data || !dynamic_cast<CCDictionary*>(data) ) {
+		CCLOG("Expected 'data' dict, but not found. Config file: %s", filename);
+		return;
+	}
+
 	// Add all keys in the existing dictionary
+	CCDictionary *data_dict = static_cast<CCDictionary*>(data);
     CCDictElement* element;
-    CCDICT_FOREACH(dict, element)
+    CCDICT_FOREACH(data_dict, element)
     {
 		if( ! m_pDefaults->objectForKey( element->getStrKey() ) )
 			m_pDefaults->setObject(element->getObject(), element->getStrKey() );
diff --git a/samples/Cpp/TestCpp/Classes/ConfigurationTest/ConfigurationTest.cpp b/samples/Cpp/TestCpp/Classes/ConfigurationTest/ConfigurationTest.cpp
index 94d8bd1c2d..80ab32d74a 100644
--- a/samples/Cpp/TestCpp/Classes/ConfigurationTest/ConfigurationTest.cpp
+++ b/samples/Cpp/TestCpp/Classes/ConfigurationTest/ConfigurationTest.cpp
@@ -5,10 +5,12 @@
 
 TESTLAYER_CREATE_FUNC(ConfigurationLoadConfig);
 TESTLAYER_CREATE_FUNC(ConfigurationQuery);
+TESTLAYER_CREATE_FUNC(ConfigurationInvalid);
 
 static NEWTESTFUNC createFunctions[] = {
     CF(ConfigurationLoadConfig),
-	CF(ConfigurationQuery)
+	CF(ConfigurationQuery),
+	CF(ConfigurationInvalid)
 };
 
 static int sceneIdx=-1;
@@ -140,7 +142,7 @@ void ConfigurationLoadConfig::onEnter()
 {
     ConfigurationBase::onEnter();
 
-	CCConfiguration::sharedConfiguration()->loadConfigFile("animations/animations.plist");
+	CCConfiguration::sharedConfiguration()->loadConfigFile("configs/config-test-ok.plist");
 	CCConfiguration::sharedConfiguration()->dumpInfo();
 
 }
@@ -167,3 +169,20 @@ std::string ConfigurationQuery::subtitle()
 {
     return "Using getCString(). Check the console";
 }
+
+//------------------------------------------------------------------
+//
+// ConfigurationInvalid
+//
+//------------------------------------------------------------------
+void ConfigurationInvalid::onEnter()
+{
+    ConfigurationBase::onEnter();
+
+	CCConfiguration::sharedConfiguration()->loadConfigFile("configs/config-test-invalid.plist");
+}
+
+std::string ConfigurationInvalid::subtitle()
+{
+    return "Loading an invalid config file";
+}
diff --git a/samples/Cpp/TestCpp/Classes/ConfigurationTest/ConfigurationTest.h b/samples/Cpp/TestCpp/Classes/ConfigurationTest/ConfigurationTest.h
index 656aa9c9ab..7f2cbc1e93 100644
--- a/samples/Cpp/TestCpp/Classes/ConfigurationTest/ConfigurationTest.h
+++ b/samples/Cpp/TestCpp/Classes/ConfigurationTest/ConfigurationTest.h
@@ -45,4 +45,11 @@ public:
     virtual std::string subtitle();
 };
 
+class ConfigurationInvalid : public ConfigurationBase
+{
+public:
+    virtual void onEnter();
+    virtual std::string subtitle();
+};
+
 #endif // __CONFIGURATIONTEST_H__