diff --git a/R/build-articles.R b/R/build-articles.R
index b4d6945bd..55ce4b2f0 100644
--- a/R/build-articles.R
+++ b/R/build-articles.R
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ build_article <- function(name,
     output_file = output_file,
     as_is = as_is
   )
-  data <- utils::modifyList(default_data, data)
+  data <- modify_list(default_data, data)
 
   if (as_is) {
     format <- NULL
diff --git a/R/figure.R b/R/figure.R
index 10ceb864e..5bb537571 100644
--- a/R/figure.R
+++ b/R/figure.R
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ meta_figures <- function(meta = list()) {
   default <- fig_save_args()
   figures <- purrr::pluck(meta, "figures", .default = list())
 
-  print_yaml(utils::modifyList(default, figures))
+  print_yaml(modify_list(default, figures))
 }
 
 #' Get current settings for figures
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ fig_opts_chunk <- function(figures, default) {
   figures$dev.args <- figures$dev.args %||% list()
   figures$dev.args$bg <- figures$bg %||% NA
 
-  utils::modifyList(default, figures)
+  modify_list(default, figures)
 }
 
 # Find graphics device ----------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/R/render.R b/R/render.R
index a69ee2374..d3c07ca69 100644
--- a/R/render.R
+++ b/R/render.R
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ render_page <- function(pkg = ".", name, data, path, depth = NULL, quiet = FALSE
 }
 
 render_page_html <- function(pkg, name, data = list(), depth = 0L) {
-  data <- utils::modifyList(data_template(pkg, depth = depth), data)
+  data <- modify_list(data_template(pkg, depth = depth), data)
 
   # render template components
   pieces <- c(