diff --git a/sqlmesh/dbt/common.py b/sqlmesh/dbt/common.py
index 240d59084a..67e1a788cf 100644
--- a/sqlmesh/dbt/common.py
+++ b/sqlmesh/dbt/common.py
@@ -46,7 +46,9 @@ def load_yaml(source: str | Path) -> t.Dict:
         raise ConfigError(f"{source}: {ex}" if isinstance(source, Path) else f"{ex}")
 
 
-def parse_meta(v: t.Dict[str, t.Any]) -> t.Dict[str, t.Any]:
+def parse_meta(v: t.Optional[t.Dict[str, t.Any]]) -> t.Dict[str, t.Any]:
+    if v is None:
+        return {}
     for key, value in v.items():
         if isinstance(value, str):
             v[key] = try_str_to_bool(value)
@@ -115,7 +117,7 @@ def _validate_list(cls, v: t.Union[str, t.List[str]]) -> t.List[str]:
 
     @field_validator("meta", mode="before")
     @classmethod
-    def _validate_meta(cls, v: t.Dict[str, t.Union[str, t.Any]]) -> t.Dict[str, t.Any]:
+    def _validate_meta(cls, v: t.Optional[t.Dict[str, t.Union[str, t.Any]]]) -> t.Dict[str, t.Any]:
         return parse_meta(v)
 
     _FIELD_UPDATE_STRATEGY: t.ClassVar[t.Dict[str, UpdateStrategy]] = {
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/dbt/sushi_test/models/schema.yml b/tests/fixtures/dbt/sushi_test/models/schema.yml
index 21985f19ff..24b1d4b3ee 100644
--- a/tests/fixtures/dbt/sushi_test/models/schema.yml
+++ b/tests/fixtures/dbt/sushi_test/models/schema.yml
@@ -91,8 +91,14 @@ sources:
     schema: raw
     tables:
       - name: items
+        config:
+          meta:
       - name: orders
+        config:
+          meta:
       - name: order_items
+        config:
+          meta:
     freshness:
       warn_after: {count: 10, period: hour}
       error_after: {count: 11, period: hour}