diff --git a/octodns/processor/meta.py b/octodns/processor/meta.py
index c0baeb7..ba579d3 100644
--- a/octodns/processor/meta.py
+++ b/octodns/processor/meta.py
@@ -62,9 +62,8 @@ class MetaProcessor(BaseProcessor):
         # Extra values to set on the records
         # (default: None)
         #include_extra:
-        #  - key=val
-        #  - foo=bar
-        #  - arbitrary string
+        #  key: val
+        #  foo: env/BAR
     '''
 
     @classmethod
@@ -103,7 +102,11 @@ class MetaProcessor(BaseProcessor):
         self.uuid = self.get_uuid() if include_uuid else None
         self.include_version = include_version
         self.include_provider = include_provider
-        self.include_extra = include_extra
+        self.include_extra = (
+            [f'{key}={val}' for key, val in include_extra.items()]
+            if include_extra is not None
+            else []
+        )
         self.ttl = ttl
 
     def values(self, target_id):
@@ -116,8 +119,8 @@ class MetaProcessor(BaseProcessor):
             ret.append(f'time={self.time}')
         if self.uuid:
             ret.append(f'uuid={self.uuid}')
-        if self.include_extra is not None:
-            ret.extend(self.include_extra)
+        # these were previously converted into key=value or will otherwise be []
+        ret.extend(self.include_extra)
         return ret
 
     def process_source_and_target_zones(self, desired, existing, target):
diff --git a/tests/test_octodns_processor_meta.py b/tests/test_octodns_processor_meta.py
index 685f34b..00d2c97 100644
--- a/tests/test_octodns_processor_meta.py
+++ b/tests/test_octodns_processor_meta.py
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ class TestMetaProcessor(TestCase):
         self.assertFalse(proc.time)
         self.assertFalse(proc.include_provider)
         self.assertFalse(proc.include_version)
-        self.assertIsNone(proc.include_extra)
+        self.assertEqual([], proc.include_extra)
 
         values = list(proc.values('dummy'))
         self.assertEqual(1, len(values))
@@ -124,17 +124,24 @@ class TestMetaProcessor(TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(f'uuid={proc.uuid}', value)
 
     def test_extra(self):
-        extra = ['one', 'two=three', 'four', 'five six']
+        extra = {'key': 'value', 'foo': 'bar', 'baz': 42}
+        expected = ['key=value', 'foo=bar', 'baz=42']
         proc = MetaProcessor('test', include_time=False, include_extra=extra)
-        self.assertEqual(extra, proc.include_extra)
+        self.assertEqual(expected, proc.include_extra)
         self.assertFalse(proc.include_provider)
         self.assertFalse(proc.include_version)
         self.assertFalse(proc.time)
         self.assertFalse(proc.uuid)
 
         values = list(proc.values('dummy'))
-        self.assertEqual(4, len(values))
-        self.assertEqual(extra, values)
+        self.assertEqual(3, len(values))
+        self.assertEqual(expected, values)
+
+        # other param values
+        proc = MetaProcessor('test', include_time=False, include_extra=None)
+        self.assertEqual([], proc.include_extra)
+        proc = MetaProcessor('test', include_time=False, include_extra={})
+        self.assertEqual([], proc.include_extra)
 
     def test_is_up_to_date_meta(self):
         proc = MetaProcessor('test')