diff --git a/CHANGELOG.rst b/CHANGELOG.rst
index e704aa19c0..ce24bdf3e8 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.rst
+++ b/CHANGELOG.rst
@@ -1,6 +1,14 @@
 Changelog
 =========
 
+Unreleased
+----------
+
+* feature:Resources: Make ``resource.meta`` a proper object. This allows
+  you to do things like ``resource.meta.client``. This is a **backward-
+  incompatible** change.
+  (`issue 45 <https://github.com/boto/boto3/pull/45>`__)
+
 0.0.6 - 2014-12-18
 ------------------
 
diff --git a/boto3/resources/action.py b/boto3/resources/action.py
index f4ac96af3d..3e68d8f12b 100644
--- a/boto3/resources/action.py
+++ b/boto3/resources/action.py
@@ -71,10 +71,10 @@ def __call__(self, parent, *args, **kwargs):
         params = create_request_parameters(parent, self._action_model.request)
         params.update(kwargs)
 
-        logger.info('Calling %s:%s with %r', parent.meta['service_name'],
+        logger.info('Calling %s:%s with %r', parent.meta.service_name,
             operation_name, params)
 
-        response = getattr(parent.meta['client'], operation_name)(**params)
+        response = getattr(parent.meta.client, operation_name)(**params)
 
         logger.debug('Response: %r', response)
 
@@ -125,9 +125,9 @@ def __call__(self, parent, *args, **kwargs):
                 # or low-level client from a collection, so we get
                 # these from the first resource in the collection.
                 if service_name is None:
-                    service_name = resource.meta['service_name']
+                    service_name = resource.meta.service_name
                 if client is None:
-                    client = resource.meta['client']
+                    client = resource.meta.client
 
                 create_request_parameters(
                     resource, self._action_model.request, params=params)
@@ -186,10 +186,10 @@ def __call__(self, parent, *args, **kwargs):
         params.update(kwargs)
 
         logger.info('Calling %s:%s with %r',
-                    parent.meta['service_name'],
+                    parent.meta.service_name,
                     self._waiter_resource_name, params)
 
-        client = parent.meta['client']
+        client = parent.meta.client
         waiter = client.get_waiter(client_waiter_name)
         response = waiter.wait(**params)
 
diff --git a/boto3/resources/base.py b/boto3/resources/base.py
index 847a6bb697..8202d9e475 100644
--- a/boto3/resources/base.py
+++ b/boto3/resources/base.py
@@ -14,6 +14,45 @@
 import boto3
 
 
+class ResourceMeta(object):
+    """
+    An object containing metadata about a resource.
+    """
+    def __init__(self, service_name, identifiers=None, client=None,
+                 data=None):
+        #: (``string``) The service name, e.g. 's3'
+        self.service_name = service_name
+
+        if identifiers is None:
+            identifiers = []
+        #: (``list``) List of identifier names
+        self.identifiers = identifiers
+
+        #: (:py:class:`~botocore.client.BaseClient`) Low-level Botocore client
+        self.client = client
+        #: (``dict``) Loaded resource data attributes
+        self.data = data
+
+    def __repr__(self):
+        return 'ResourceMeta(\'{0}\', identifiers={1})'.format(
+            self.service_name, self.identifiers)
+
+    def __eq__(self, other):
+        # Two metas are equal if their components are all equal
+        if other.__class__.__name__ != self.__class__.__name__:
+            return False
+
+        return self.__dict__ == other.__dict__
+
+    def copy(self):
+        """
+        Create a copy of this metadata object.
+        """
+        params = self.__dict__.copy()
+        service_name = params.pop('service_name')
+        return ResourceMeta(service_name, **params)
+
+
 class ServiceResource(object):
     """
     A base class for resources.
@@ -29,11 +68,13 @@ class ServiceResource(object):
     from when the instance was hydrated. For example::
 
         # Get a low-level client from a resource instance
-        client = resource.meta['client']
+        client = resource.meta.client
         response = client.operation(Param='foo')
 
         # Print the resource instance's service short name
-        print(resource.meta['service_name'])
+        print(resource.meta.service_name)
+
+    See :py:class:`ResourceMeta` for more information.
     """
 
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
@@ -43,14 +84,14 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
 
         # Create a default client if none was passed
         if kwargs.get('client') is not None:
-            self.meta['client'] = kwargs.get('client')
+            self.meta.client = kwargs.get('client')
         else:
-            self.meta['client'] = boto3.client(self.meta['service_name'])
+            self.meta.client = boto3.client(self.meta.service_name)
 
         # Allow setting identifiers as positional arguments in the order
         # in which they were defined in the ResourceJSON.
         for i, value in enumerate(args):
-            setattr(self, self.meta['identifiers'][i], value)
+            setattr(self, self.meta.identifiers[i], value)
 
         # Allow setting identifiers via keyword arguments. Here we need
         # extra logic to ignore other keyword arguments like ``client``.
@@ -58,20 +99,20 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
             if name == 'client':
                 continue
 
-            if name not in self.meta['identifiers']:
+            if name not in self.meta.identifiers:
                 raise ValueError('Unknown keyword argument: {0}'.format(name))
 
             setattr(self, name, value)
 
         # Validate that all identifiers have been set.
-        for identifier in self.meta['identifiers']:
+        for identifier in self.meta.identifiers:
             if getattr(self, identifier) is None:
                 raise ValueError(
                     'Required parameter {0} not set'.format(identifier))
 
     def __repr__(self):
         identifiers = []
-        for identifier in self.meta['identifiers']:
+        for identifier in self.meta.identifiers:
             identifiers.append('{0}={1}'.format(
                 identifier, repr(getattr(self, identifier))))
         return "{0}({1})".format(
@@ -86,7 +127,7 @@ def __eq__(self, other):
 
         # Each of the identifiers should have the same value in both
         # instances, e.g. two buckets need the same name to be equal.
-        for identifier in self.meta['identifiers']:
+        for identifier in self.meta.identifiers:
             if getattr(self, identifier) != getattr(other, identifier):
                 return False
 
diff --git a/boto3/resources/collection.py b/boto3/resources/collection.py
index bbbb406729..483c754676 100644
--- a/boto3/resources/collection.py
+++ b/boto3/resources/collection.py
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ def __repr__(self):
             self.__class__.__name__,
             self._parent,
             '{0}.{1}'.format(
-                self._parent.meta['service_name'],
+                self._parent.meta.service_name,
                 self._model.resource.type
             )
         )
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ def pages(self):
         :rtype: list(:py:class:`~boto3.resources.base.ServiceResource`)
         :return: List of resource instances
         """
-        client = self._parent.meta['client']
+        client = self._parent.meta.client
         cleaned_params = self._params.copy()
         limit = cleaned_params.pop('limit', None)
         page_size = cleaned_params.pop('page_size', None)
@@ -147,14 +147,14 @@ def pages(self):
         # the page size parameter.
         if client.can_paginate(self._py_operation_name):
             logger.info('Calling paginated %s:%s with %r',
-                        self._parent.meta['service_name'],
+                        self._parent.meta.service_name,
                         self._py_operation_name, params)
             paginator = client.get_paginator(self._py_operation_name)
             pages = paginator.paginate(
                 max_items=limit, page_size=page_size, **params)
         else:
             logger.info('Calling %s:%s with %r',
-                        self._parent.meta['service_name'],
+                        self._parent.meta.service_name,
                         self._py_operation_name, params)
             pages = [getattr(client, self._py_operation_name)(**params)]
 
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ def __repr__(self):
             self.__class__.__name__,
             self._parent,
             '{0}.{1}'.format(
-                self._parent.meta['service_name'],
+                self._parent.meta.service_name,
                 self._model.resource.type
             )
         )
diff --git a/boto3/resources/factory.py b/boto3/resources/factory.py
index 7b8926b1cb..63cf2e770d 100644
--- a/boto3/resources/factory.py
+++ b/boto3/resources/factory.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 
 from .action import ServiceAction
 from .action import WaiterAction
-from .base import ServiceResource
+from .base import ResourceMeta, ServiceResource
 from .collection import CollectionFactory
 from .model import ResourceModel
 from .response import all_not_none, build_identifiers
@@ -65,11 +65,7 @@ def load_from_definition(self, service_name, resource_name, model,
         :return: The service or resource class.
         """
         # Set some basic info
-        meta = {
-            'service_name': service_name,
-            'identifiers': [],
-            'data': None,
-        }
+        meta = ResourceMeta(service_name)
         attrs = {
             'meta': meta,
         }
@@ -107,7 +103,7 @@ def _load_identifiers(self, attrs, meta, model):
             snake_cased = xform_name(identifier.name)
             snake_cased = self._check_allowed_name(
                 attrs, snake_cased, 'identifier', model.name)
-            meta['identifiers'].append(snake_cased)
+            meta.identifiers.append(snake_cased)
             attrs[snake_cased] = None
 
     def _load_subresources(self, attrs, service_name, resource_name,
@@ -168,7 +164,7 @@ def _load_attributes(self, attrs, meta, model, service_model):
 
             for name, member in shape.members.items():
                 snake_cased = xform_name(name)
-                if snake_cased in meta['identifiers']:
+                if snake_cased in meta.identifiers:
                     # Skip identifiers, these are set through other means
                     continue
 
@@ -190,7 +186,7 @@ def _load_collections(self, attrs, model, resource_defs, service_model):
                 attrs, snake_cased, 'collection', model.name)
 
             attrs[snake_cased] = self._create_collection(
-                attrs['meta']['service_name'], model.name, snake_cased,
+                attrs['meta'].service_name, model.name, snake_cased,
                 collection_model, resource_defs, service_model)
 
     def _load_references(self, attrs, service_name, resource_name,
@@ -272,14 +268,14 @@ def _create_autoload_property(factory_self, name, snake_cased):
         # it first checks to see if it CAN be loaded (raise if not), then
         # calls the load before returning the value.
         def property_loader(self):
-            if self.meta['data'] is None:
+            if self.meta.data is None:
                 if hasattr(self, 'load'):
                     self.load()
                 else:
                     raise ResourceLoadException(
                         '{0} has no load method'.format(self.__class__.__name__))
 
-            return self.meta['data'].get(name)
+            return self.meta.data.get(name)
 
         property_loader.__name__ = str(snake_cased)
         property_loader.__doc__ = 'TODO'
@@ -366,12 +362,12 @@ def create_resource(self, *args, **kwargs):
                     pargs.append(getattr(self, xform_name(key)))
 
             return partial(resource_cls, *pargs,
-                client=self.meta.get('client'))(*args, **kwargs)
+                client=self.meta.client)(*args, **kwargs)
 
         # Generate documentation about required and optional params
         doc = 'Create a new instance of {0}\n\nRequired identifiers:\n'
 
-        for identifier in resource_cls.meta['identifiers']:
+        for identifier in resource_cls.meta.identifiers:
             doc += ':type {0}: string\n'.format(identifier)
             doc += ':param {0}: {0} identifier\n'.format(identifier)
 
@@ -405,7 +401,7 @@ def _create_action(factory_self, snake_cased, action_model, resource_defs,
             # instance via ``self``.
             def do_action(self, *args, **kwargs):
                 response = action(self, *args, **kwargs)
-                self.meta['data'] = response
+                self.meta.data = response
         else:
             # We need a new method here because we want access to the
             # instance via ``self``.
@@ -416,7 +412,7 @@ def do_action(self, *args, **kwargs):
                     # Clear cached data. It will be reloaded the next
                     # time that an attribute is accessed.
                     # TODO: Make this configurable in the future?
-                    self.meta['data'] = None
+                    self.meta.data = None
 
                 return response
 
diff --git a/boto3/resources/response.py b/boto3/resources/response.py
index 2834e836db..1c730b1215 100644
--- a/boto3/resources/response.py
+++ b/boto3/resources/response.py
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ def __call__(self, parent, params, response):
         """
         resource_name = self.resource_model.type
         resource_cls = self.factory.load_from_definition(
-            parent.meta['service_name'], resource_name,
+            parent.meta.service_name, resource_name,
             self.resource_defs.get(resource_name), self.resource_defs,
             self.service_model)
 
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ def __call__(self, parent, params, response):
 
         # Anytime a path is defined, it means the response contains the
         # resource's attributes, so resource_data gets set here. It
-        # eventually ends up in resource.meta['data'], which is where
+        # eventually ends up in resource.meta.data, which is where
         # the attribute properties look for data.
         if self.search_path:
             search_response = jmespath.search(self.search_path, raw_response)
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ def handle_response_item(self, resource_cls, parent, identifiers,
         :return: New resource instance.
         """
         kwargs = {
-            'client': parent.meta.get('client'),
+            'client': parent.meta.client,
         }
 
         for name, value in identifiers.items():
@@ -271,6 +271,6 @@ def handle_response_item(self, resource_cls, parent, identifiers,
         resource = resource_cls(**kwargs)
 
         if resource_data is not None:
-            resource.meta['data'] = resource_data
+            resource.meta.data = resource_data
 
         return resource
diff --git a/docs/source/guide/clients.rst b/docs/source/guide/clients.rst
index 4a8ed2d671..2e2feda234 100644
--- a/docs/source/guide/clients.rst
+++ b/docs/source/guide/clients.rst
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ resource::
     sqs_resource = boto3.resource('sqs')
 
     # Get the client from the resource
-    sqs = sqs_resource.meta['client']
+    sqs = sqs_resource.meta.client
 
 Service Operations
 ------------------
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_s3.py b/tests/integration/test_s3.py
index 197de819d1..233ccff8b7 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_s3.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_s3.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ def create_bucket_resource(self, bucket_name, region=None):
         return bucket
 
     def test_s3(self):
-        client = self.s3.meta['client']
+        client = self.s3.meta.client
 
         # Create a bucket (resource action with a resource response)
         bucket = self.create_bucket_resource(self.bucket_name)
diff --git a/tests/unit/resources/test_action.py b/tests/unit/resources/test_action.py
index 8420c6525b..59a804cf5e 100644
--- a/tests/unit/resources/test_action.py
+++ b/tests/unit/resources/test_action.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 # language governing permissions and limitations under the License.
 
 from boto3.resources.action import BatchAction, ServiceAction, WaiterAction
+from boto3.resources.base import ResourceMeta
 from boto3.resources.model import Action, Waiter
 from tests import BaseTestCase, mock
 
@@ -35,10 +36,7 @@ def action(self):
                 return_value={})
     def test_service_action_creates_params(self, params_mock):
         resource = mock.Mock()
-        resource.meta = {
-            'service_name': 'test',
-            'client': mock.Mock(),
-        }
+        resource.meta = ResourceMeta('test', client=mock.Mock())
 
         action = ServiceAction(self.action)
 
@@ -51,11 +49,8 @@ def test_service_action_creates_params(self, params_mock):
                 return_value={'bar': 'baz'})
     def test_service_action_calls_operation(self, params_mock):
         resource = mock.Mock()
-        resource.meta = {
-            'service_name': 'test',
-            'client': mock.Mock(),
-        }
-        operation = resource.meta['client'].get_frobs
+        resource.meta = ResourceMeta('test', client=mock.Mock())
+        operation = resource.meta.client.get_frobs
         operation.return_value = 'response'
 
         action = ServiceAction(self.action)
@@ -71,11 +66,8 @@ def test_service_action_calls_operation(self, params_mock):
     @mock.patch('boto3.resources.action.RawHandler')
     def test_service_action_calls_raw_handler(self, handler_mock, params_mock):
         resource = mock.Mock()
-        resource.meta = {
-            'service_name': 'test',
-            'client': mock.Mock(),
-        }
-        operation = resource.meta['client'].get_frobs
+        resource.meta = ResourceMeta('test', client=mock.Mock())
+        operation = resource.meta.client.get_frobs
         operation.return_value = 'response'
 
         action = ServiceAction(self.action)
@@ -97,11 +89,8 @@ def test_service_action_calls_resource_handler(self, handler_mock, params_mock):
         }
 
         resource = mock.Mock()
-        resource.meta = {
-            'service_name': 'test',
-            'client': mock.Mock(),
-        }
-        operation = resource.meta['client'].get_frobs
+        resource.meta = ResourceMeta('test', client=mock.Mock())
+        operation = resource.meta.client.get_frobs
         operation.return_value = 'response'
 
         factory = mock.Mock()
@@ -142,10 +131,7 @@ def waiter(self):
                 return_value={})
     def test_service_waiter_creates_params(self, params_mock):
         resource = mock.Mock()
-        resource.meta = {
-            'service_name': 'test',
-            'client': mock.Mock(),
-        }
+        resource.meta = ResourceMeta('test', client=mock.Mock())
 
         action = WaiterAction(self.waiter, self.waiter_resource_name)
 
@@ -158,11 +144,8 @@ def test_service_waiter_creates_params(self, params_mock):
                 return_value={'bar': 'baz'})
     def test_service_action_calls_operation(self, params_mock):
         resource = mock.Mock()
-        resource.meta = {
-            'service_name': 'test',
-            'client': mock.Mock(),
-        }
-        get_waiter = resource.meta['client'].get_waiter
+        resource.meta = ResourceMeta('test', client=mock.Mock())
+        get_waiter = resource.meta.client.get_waiter
         mock_waiter = mock.Mock()
         get_waiter.return_value = mock_waiter
 
@@ -209,10 +192,7 @@ def test_batch_action_creates_parameters_from_items(self):
         client = mock.Mock()
 
         item1 = mock.Mock()
-        item1.meta = {
-            'service_name': 'test',
-            'client': client
-        }
+        item1.meta = ResourceMeta('test', client=client)
         item1.bucket_name = 'bucket'
         item1.key = 'item1'
 
@@ -242,10 +222,7 @@ def test_batch_action_skips_operation(self, crp_mock):
         client = mock.Mock()
 
         item = mock.Mock()
-        item.meta = {
-            'service_name': 'test',
-            'client': client
-        }
+        item.meta = ResourceMeta('test', client=client)
 
         collection = mock.Mock()
         collection.pages.return_value = [[item]]
@@ -269,10 +246,7 @@ def side_effect(resource, model, params=None):
         client = mock.Mock()
 
         item = mock.Mock()
-        item.meta = {
-            'service_name': 'test',
-            'client': client
-        }
+        item.meta = ResourceMeta('test', client=client)
 
         collection = mock.Mock()
         collection.pages.return_value = [[item]]
diff --git a/tests/unit/resources/test_collection.py b/tests/unit/resources/test_collection.py
index 7f7a116bc6..54fab2859b 100644
--- a/tests/unit/resources/test_collection.py
+++ b/tests/unit/resources/test_collection.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 from botocore.model import ServiceModel
 from boto3.resources.collection import CollectionFactory, CollectionManager, \
                                        ResourceCollection
+from boto3.resources.base import ResourceMeta
 from boto3.resources.factory import ResourceFactory
 from boto3.resources.model import Collection
 from tests import BaseTestCase, mock
@@ -25,12 +26,8 @@ def setUp(self):
 
         self.client = mock.Mock()
         self.client.can_paginate.return_value = False
-        meta = {
-            'client': self.client,
-            'service_name': 'test'
-        }
         self.parent = mock.Mock()
-        self.parent.meta = meta
+        self.parent.meta = ResourceMeta('test', client=self.client)
         self.resource_factory = ResourceFactory()
         self.service_model = ServiceModel({})
 
@@ -129,12 +126,8 @@ def setUp(self):
         }
         self.client = mock.Mock()
         self.client.can_paginate.return_value = False
-        meta = {
-            'client': self.client,
-            'service_name': 'test'
-        }
         self.parent = mock.Mock()
-        self.parent.meta = meta
+        self.parent.meta = ResourceMeta('test', client=self.client)
         self.factory = ResourceFactory()
         self.service_model = ServiceModel({})
    
diff --git a/tests/unit/resources/test_factory.py b/tests/unit/resources/test_factory.py
index b9059dacaf..591ded3fd4 100644
--- a/tests/unit/resources/test_factory.py
+++ b/tests/unit/resources/test_factory.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ def test_get_resource_returns_resource_class(self):
     def test_factory_sets_service_name(self):
         QueueResource = self.load('test', 'Queue', {}, {}, None)
 
-        self.assertEqual(QueueResource.meta['service_name'], 'test',
+        self.assertEqual(QueueResource.meta.service_name, 'test',
             'Service name not set')
 
     def test_factory_sets_identifiers(self):
@@ -57,11 +57,9 @@ def test_factory_sets_identifiers(self):
 
         MessageResource = self.load('test', 'Message', model, {}, None)
 
-        self.assertTrue('identifiers' in MessageResource.meta,
-            'Class has no identifiers')
-        self.assertIn('queue_url', MessageResource.meta['identifiers'],
+        self.assertIn('queue_url', MessageResource.meta.identifiers,
             'Missing queue_url identifier from model')
-        self.assertIn('receipt_handle', MessageResource.meta['identifiers'],
+        self.assertIn('receipt_handle', MessageResource.meta.identifiers,
             'Missing receipt_handle identifier from model')
 
     def test_identifiers_in_repr(self):
@@ -208,7 +206,7 @@ def test_dangling_resource_shares_client(self):
         resource = self.load('test', 'test', {}, defs, None)()
         q = resource.Queue('test')
 
-        self.assertEqual(resource.meta['client'], q.meta['client'],
+        self.assertEqual(resource.meta.client, q.meta.client,
             'Client was not shared to dangling resource instance')
 
     def test_dangling_resource_requires_identifier(self):
@@ -337,13 +335,20 @@ def test_resource_meta_unique(self):
         self.assertEqual(queue1.meta, queue2.meta,
             'Queue meta copies not equal after creation')
 
-        queue1.meta['data'] = {'id': 'foo'}
-        queue2.meta['data'] = {'id': 'bar'}
+        queue1.meta.data = {'id': 'foo'}
+        queue2.meta.data = {'id': 'bar'}
 
         self.assertNotEqual(queue_cls.meta, queue1.meta,
             'Modified queue instance data should not modify the class data')
         self.assertNotEqual(queue1.meta, queue2.meta,
             'Queue data should be unique to queue instance')
+        self.assertNotEqual(queue1.meta, 'bad-value')
+
+    def test_resource_meta_repr(self):
+        queue_cls = self.load('test', 'Queue', {}, {}, None)
+        queue = queue_cls()
+        self.assertEqual(repr(queue.meta),
+                         'ResourceMeta(\'test\', identifiers=[])')
 
     @mock.patch('boto3.resources.factory.ServiceAction')
     def test_resource_calls_action(self, action_cls):
@@ -384,13 +389,13 @@ def test_resource_action_clears_data(self, action_cls):
         queue = self.load('test', 'Queue', model, {}, None)()
 
         # Simulate loaded data
-        queue.meta['data'] = {'some': 'data'}
+        queue.meta.data = {'some': 'data'}
 
         # Perform a call
         queue.get_message_status()
 
         # Cached data should be cleared
-        self.assertIsNone(queue.meta['data'])
+        self.assertIsNone(queue.meta.data)
 
     @mock.patch('boto3.resources.factory.ServiceAction')
     def test_resource_action_leaves_data(self, action_cls):
@@ -409,13 +414,13 @@ def test_resource_action_leaves_data(self, action_cls):
         queue = self.load('test', 'Queue', model, {}, None)()
 
         # Simulate loaded data
-        queue.meta['data'] = {'some': 'data'}
+        queue.meta.data = {'some': 'data'}
 
         # Perform a call
         queue.get_message_status()
 
         # Cached data should not be cleared
-        self.assertEqual(queue.meta['data'], {'some': 'data'})
+        self.assertEqual(queue.meta.data, {'some': 'data'})
 
     @mock.patch('boto3.resources.factory.ServiceAction')
     def test_resource_lazy_loads_properties(self, action_cls):
@@ -455,8 +460,8 @@ def test_resource_lazy_loads_properties(self, action_cls):
         action.assert_called_once()
 
         # Both params should have been loaded into the data bag
-        self.assertIn('ETag', resource.meta['data'])
-        self.assertIn('LastModified', resource.meta['data'])
+        self.assertIn('ETag', resource.meta.data)
+        self.assertIn('LastModified', resource.meta.data)
 
         # Accessing another property should use cached value
         # instead of making a second call.
@@ -542,7 +547,7 @@ def test_resource_loads_references(self):
                              service_model)('group-id')
 
         # Load the resource with no data
-        resource.meta['data'] = {}
+        resource.meta.data = {}
 
         self.assertTrue(hasattr(resource, 'subnet'),
                         'Resource should have a subnet reference')
@@ -552,7 +557,7 @@ def test_resource_loads_references(self):
                         'Resource should have a group reverse ref')
 
         # Load the resource with data to instantiate a reference
-        resource.meta['data'] = {'SubnetId': 'abc123'}
+        resource.meta.data = {'SubnetId': 'abc123'}
         self.assertIsInstance(resource.subnet, ServiceResource)
         self.assertEqual(resource.subnet.id, 'abc123')
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/resources/test_response.py b/tests/unit/resources/test_response.py
index 369b6a36fd..2ca30240fd 100644
--- a/tests/unit/resources/test_response.py
+++ b/tests/unit/resources/test_response.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 # language governing permissions and limitations under the License.
 
 from tests import BaseTestCase, mock
-from boto3.resources.base import ServiceResource
+from boto3.resources.base import ResourceMeta, ServiceResource
 from boto3.resources.model import ResponseResource, Parameter
 from boto3.resources.factory import ResourceFactory
 from boto3.resources.response import build_identifiers, build_empty_response,\
@@ -327,10 +327,7 @@ def setUp(self):
         self.service_model.operation_model.return_value = operation_model
 
         self.parent = mock.Mock()
-        self.parent.meta = {
-            'service_name': 'test',
-            'client': mock.Mock(),
-        }
+        self.parent.meta = ResourceMeta('test', client=mock.Mock())
         self.params = {}
 
     def get_resource(self, search_path, response):