diff --git a/lib/node-conversion.js b/lib/node-conversion.js
index 50f50c5..807aa18 100644
--- a/lib/node-conversion.js
+++ b/lib/node-conversion.js
@@ -155,12 +155,13 @@ exports.convertPackage = function(packageConfig, packageName, packageDir, ui) {
       var filePath = path.resolve(packageDir, fileName);
 
       // when generating meta, set up the empty object now
+      var fileFormat = systemConfig.format;
       if (meta)
         var curMeta = {};
 
       // otherwise read format comprehensively from existing metadata
       else
-        var fileFormat = readMeta(fileName, systemConfig.meta).format || systemConfig.format;
+        fileFormat = readMeta(fileName, systemConfig.meta).format || systemConfig.format;
 
       var fileSource;