diff --git a/monai/data/meta_obj.py b/monai/data/meta_obj.py
index 3a1bee508c..5061efc1ce 100644
--- a/monai/data/meta_obj.py
+++ b/monai/data/meta_obj.py
@@ -174,7 +174,8 @@ def meta(self, d) -> None:
         """Set the meta."""
         if d == TraceKeys.NONE:
             self._meta = MetaObj.get_default_meta()
-        self._meta = d
+        else:
+            self._meta = d
 
     @property
     def applied_operations(self) -> list[dict]:
diff --git a/monai/transforms/io/array.py b/monai/transforms/io/array.py
index 5ee17e6268..3cfb2b1953 100644
--- a/monai/transforms/io/array.py
+++ b/monai/transforms/io/array.py
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ def __call__(self, filename: Union[Sequence[PathLike], PathLike], reader: Option
             img = EnsureChannelFirst()(img)
         if self.image_only:
             return img
-        return img, img.meta  # for compatibility purpose
+        return img, img.meta if isinstance(img, MetaTensor) else meta_data
 
 
 class SaveImage(Transform):