diff --git a/pvlib/pvsystem.py b/pvlib/pvsystem.py
index bcf460221a..cae3488ec8 100644
--- a/pvlib/pvsystem.py
+++ b/pvlib/pvsystem.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 
 
 
-def systemdef(tmy_meta, surftilt, surfaz, albedo, series_modules, 
+def systemdef(meta, surftilt, surfaz, albedo, series_modules, 
               parallel_modules):
     '''
     Generates a dict of system paramters used throughout a simulation.
@@ -25,9 +25,9 @@ def systemdef(tmy_meta, surftilt, surfaz, albedo, series_modules,
     Parameters
     ----------
 
-    tmy_meta : dict
-        meta file generated from a TMY file using pvl_readtmy2 or pvl_readtmy3.
-        It should contain at least the following fields: 
+    meta : dict
+        meta dict either generated from a TMY file using readtmy2 or readtmy3, or
+        a dict containing at least the following fields: 
 
             ===============   ======  ====================  
             meta field        format  description
@@ -73,8 +73,8 @@ def systemdef(tmy_meta, surftilt, surfaz, albedo, series_modules,
             * 'albedo'
             * 'series_modules'
             * 'parallel_modules'
-            * 'Lat'
-            * 'Long'
+            * 'latitude'
+            * 'longitude'
             * 'TZ'
             * 'name'
             * 'altitude'
@@ -87,20 +87,20 @@ def systemdef(tmy_meta, surftilt, surfaz, albedo, series_modules,
     '''
     
     try:
-        name = tmy_meta['Name']
+        name = meta['Name']
     except KeyError:
-        name = tmy_meta['City']
+        name = meta['City']
     
     system = {'surftilt':surftilt,
               'surfaz':surfaz,
               'albedo':albedo,
               'series_modules':series_modules,
               'parallel_modules':parallel_modules,
-              'latitude':tmy_meta['latitude'],
-              'longitude':tmy_meta['longitude'],
-              'TZ':tmy_meta['TZ'],
+              'latitude':meta['latitude'],
+              'longitude':meta['longitude'],
+              'TZ':meta['TZ'],
               'name':name,
-              'altitude':tmy_meta['altitude']}
+              'altitude':meta['altitude']}
 
     return system
 
@@ -1098,4 +1098,4 @@ def snlinverter(inverter, Vmp, Pmp):
     ACPower[ACPower > Paco] = Paco
     ACPower[ACPower < Pso] = - 1.0 * abs(Pnt)
 
-    return ACPower
\ No newline at end of file
+    return ACPower
diff --git a/pvlib/test/test_pvsystem.py b/pvlib/test/test_pvsystem.py
index cde1dcb31b..0e4f41a217 100644
--- a/pvlib/test/test_pvsystem.py
+++ b/pvlib/test/test_pvsystem.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 irrad_data = clearsky.ineichen(times, tus, solarposition_method='pyephem')
 aoi = irradiance.aoi(0, 0, ephem_data['apparent_zenith'], ephem_data['apparent_azimuth'])
 am = atmosphere.relativeairmass(ephem_data.apparent_zenith)
+meta = { 'latitude': 37.8, 'longitude': -122.3, 'altitude': 10, 'Name': 'Oakland', 'State': 'CA', 'TZ': -8}
 
 pvlib_abspath = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(inspect.getfile(tmy)))
 
@@ -58,6 +59,19 @@ def test_systemdef_tmy2():
                 'surfaz': 0,
                 'surftilt': 0}
     assert_equals(expected, pvsystem.systemdef(tmy2_metadata, 0, 0, .1, 5, 5))
+
+def test_systemdef_dict():
+    expected = {'TZ': -8, ## Note that TZ is float, but Location sets tz as string 
+                'albedo': 0.1,
+                'altitude': 10,
+                'latitude': 37.8,
+                'longitude': -122.3,
+                'name': 'Oakland',
+                'parallel_modules': 5,
+                'series_modules': 5,
+                'surfaz': 0,
+                'surftilt': 5}
+    assert_equals(expected, pvsystem.systemdef(meta, 5, 0, .1, 5, 5))
     
 
 
@@ -130,4 +144,4 @@ def test_snlinverter():
     pdcs = idcs * vdcs
 
     pacs = pvsystem.snlinverter(inverters[testinv], vdcs, pdcs)
-    
\ No newline at end of file
+