diff --git a/lib/s3.js b/lib/s3.js
index a944a603..af034f00 100644
--- a/lib/s3.js
+++ b/lib/s3.js
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 			opt.ctx.load = opt.ctx.load || {};
 			key = s3.prefix + s3.prenode + Gun.is.rel(key);
 			s3.GET(key, function(err, data, text, meta){
+				meta = meta || {};
 				Gun.log('via s3', key, err);
 				if(err && err.statusCode == 404){
 					err = null; // we want a difference between 'unfound' (data is null) and 'error' (auth is wrong).