diff --git a/src/index.js b/src/index.js
index 6132de4..1d2763a 100644
--- a/src/index.js
+++ b/src/index.js
@@ -43,12 +43,16 @@ function getCode(body) {
 
 module.exports = {
   'application/vnd.api+json': function jsonapiFormatter(req, res, body) {
-    const response = {
-      meta: {
-        id: req.id(),
-        ...res.meta || {},
-      },
-    };
+    const response = {}
+    if (res.meta !== undefined) {
+      response.meta = res.meta
+    } else {
+      response.meta = { id: req.id() }
+      if (!isProd) {
+        response.meta.timers = req.timers;
+        response.meta.path = req.path();
+      }
+    }
 
     if (res.links !== undefined) {
       response.links = { ...res.links };
@@ -58,11 +62,6 @@ module.exports = {
       response.included = [...res.included];
     }
 
-    if (!isProd) {
-      response.meta.timers = req.timers;
-      response.meta.path = req.path();
-    }
-
     if (body instanceof Error) {
       // check for error message
       res.statusCode = getCode(body);