diff --git a/conda_lock/conda_lock.py b/conda_lock/conda_lock.py
index 5ac4d5d73..631db834b 100644
--- a/conda_lock/conda_lock.py
+++ b/conda_lock/conda_lock.py
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ def make_lock_files(  # noqa: C901
                     deep=True,
                     update={"package": packages_not_to_lock},
                 )
-                new_lock_content = lock_content_to_persist | fresh_lock_content
+                new_lock_content = lock_content_to_persist.merge(fresh_lock_content)
 
             if "lock" in kinds:
                 write_conda_lock_file(
diff --git a/conda_lock/lockfile/v2prelim/models.py b/conda_lock/lockfile/v2prelim/models.py
index 65c81cd33..6afcef9e8 100644
--- a/conda_lock/lockfile/v2prelim/models.py
+++ b/conda_lock/lockfile/v2prelim/models.py
@@ -39,10 +39,7 @@ class Lockfile(StrictModel):
     package: List[LockedDependency]
     metadata: LockMeta
 
-    def __or__(self, other: "Lockfile") -> "Lockfile":
-        return other.__ror__(self)
-
-    def __ror__(self, other: "Optional[Lockfile]") -> "Lockfile":
+    def merge(self, other: "Optional[Lockfile]") -> "Lockfile":
         """
         merge self into other
         """