diff --git a/lib/parfait/class.rb b/lib/parfait/class.rb
index 0348606b..0308d174 100644
--- a/lib/parfait/class.rb
+++ b/lib/parfait/class.rb
@@ -33,10 +33,6 @@ module Parfait
       #space, and ruby allocate
     end
 
-    def meta
-      get_layout
-    end
-
     def add_instance_name name
       self.object_layout.push name
     end
diff --git a/lib/parfait/object.rb b/lib/parfait/object.rb
index dacfaecd..5a682542 100644
--- a/lib/parfait/object.rb
+++ b/lib/parfait/object.rb
@@ -71,6 +71,11 @@ module Parfait
       return l
     end
 
+    # return the metaclass
+    def meta
+      MetaClass.new self
+    end
+
     def get_instance_variables
       get_layout().instance_names
     end