diff --git a/octodns/processor/meta.py b/octodns/processor/meta.py
index 06ce614..4c71724 100644
--- a/octodns/processor/meta.py
+++ b/octodns/processor/meta.py
@@ -120,13 +120,13 @@ class MetaProcessor(BaseProcessor):
     def process_source_and_target_zones(self, desired, existing, target):
         if self.include_provider:
             # look for the meta record
-            for record in sorted(existing.records):
+            for record in sorted(desired.records):
                 if record.name == self.record_name and record._type == 'TXT':
                     # we've found it, make a copy we can modify
                     record = record.copy()
                     record.values = record.values + [f'provider={target.id}']
                     record.values.sort()
-                    existing.add_record(record, replace=True)
+                    desired.add_record(record, replace=True)
                     break
 
         return desired, existing
diff --git a/tests/test_octodns_processor_meta.py b/tests/test_octodns_processor_meta.py
index c5b5f78..b99dd19 100644
--- a/tests/test_octodns_processor_meta.py
+++ b/tests/test_octodns_processor_meta.py
@@ -128,8 +128,11 @@ class TestMetaProcessor(TestCase):
         proc = MetaProcessor('test')
 
         # with defaults, not enabled
-        zone = self.zone.copy()
-        processed, _ = proc.process_source_and_target_zones(zone, zone, None)
+        existing = self.zone.copy()
+        desired = self.zone.copy()
+        processed, _ = proc.process_source_and_target_zones(
+            existing, desired, None
+        )
         self.assertFalse(processed.records)
 
         # enable provider
@@ -141,7 +144,7 @@ class TestMetaProcessor(TestCase):
         # enabled provider, no meta record, shouldn't happen, but also shouldn't
         # blow up
         processed, _ = proc.process_source_and_target_zones(
-            zone, zone, DummyTarget()
+            existing, desired, DummyTarget()
         )
         self.assertFalse(processed.records)
 
@@ -149,23 +152,25 @@ class TestMetaProcessor(TestCase):
         # - only record so nothing to skip over
         # - time value in there to be skipped over
         proc = MetaProcessor('test', include_provider=True)
-        zone = self.zone.copy()
+        existing = self.zone.copy()
+        desired = self.zone.copy()
         meta = self.meta_up_to_date.copy()
-        zone.add_record(meta)
+        existing.add_record(meta)
         processed, _ = proc.process_source_and_target_zones(
-            zone, zone, DummyTarget()
+            existing, desired, DummyTarget()
         )
         record = next(iter(processed.records))
         self.assertEqual(['provider=dummy', 'time=xxx'], record.values)
 
         # add another unrelated record that needs to be skipped
         proc = MetaProcessor('test', include_provider=True)
-        zone = self.zone.copy()
+        existing = self.zone.copy()
+        desired = self.zone.copy()
         meta = self.meta_up_to_date.copy()
-        zone.add_record(meta)
-        zone.add_record(self.not_meta)
+        existing.add_record(meta)
+        existing.add_record(self.not_meta)
         processed, _ = proc.process_source_and_target_zones(
-            zone, zone, DummyTarget()
+            existing, desired, DummyTarget()
         )
         self.assertEqual(2, len(processed.records))
         record = [r for r in processed.records if r.name == proc.record_name][0]