diff --git a/hyde/ext/plugins/meta.py b/hyde/ext/plugins/meta.py
index 1831e18..2433b1c 100644
--- a/hyde/ext/plugins/meta.py
+++ b/hyde/ext/plugins/meta.py
@@ -29,10 +29,10 @@ class Metadata(Expando):
         """
         Updates the metadata with new stuff
         """
-        if isinstance(data, dict):
-            super(Metadata, self).update(data)
-        else:
+        if isinstance(data, basestring):
             super(Metadata, self).update(yaml.load(data))
+        else:
+            super(Metadata, self).update(data)
 
 
 class MetaPlugin(Plugin):
diff --git a/hyde/model.py b/hyde/model.py
index 9e84db4..16387cf 100644
--- a/hyde/model.py
+++ b/hyde/model.py
@@ -18,8 +18,11 @@ class Expando(object):
         Updates the expando with a new dictionary
         """
         d = d or {}
-        for key, value in d.items():
-            setattr(self, key, Expando.transform(value))
+        if isinstance(d, dict):
+            for key, value in d.items():
+                setattr(self, key, Expando.transform(value))
+        elif isinstance(d, Expando):
+            self.update(d.__dict__)
 
     @staticmethod
     def transform(primitive):
diff --git a/hyde/tests/test_model.py b/hyde/tests/test_model.py
index df6c2c9..7db97f4 100644
--- a/hyde/tests/test_model.py
+++ b/hyde/tests/test_model.py
@@ -37,6 +37,11 @@ def test_expando_update():
     assert x.b.c == d['b']['c']
     assert x.b.d.e == d['b']['d']['e']
     assert x.f == d["f"]
+    d2 = {"a": 789, "f": "opq"}
+    y = Expando(d2)
+    x.update(y)
+    assert x.a == 789
+    assert x.f == "opq"
 
 TEST_SITE_ROOT = File(__file__).parent.child_folder('sites/test_jinja')
 import yaml