diff --git a/src/libcamera/include/pipeline_handler.h b/src/libcamera/include/pipeline_handler.h
index ca40e7ef2b85f372..3c08ecb0260675e0 100644
--- a/src/libcamera/include/pipeline_handler.h
+++ b/src/libcamera/include/pipeline_handler.h
@@ -102,6 +102,8 @@ protected:
 
 	void prepareInternalBuffer(Buffer *buffer, Request *request,
 				   BufferMemory *mem);
+	void processMetaData(Request *request, const IPAMetaData &metaData);
+
 	CameraManager *manager_;
 
 private:
diff --git a/src/libcamera/pipeline_handler.cpp b/src/libcamera/pipeline_handler.cpp
index 613751619a398968..04293921d4d81d98 100644
--- a/src/libcamera/pipeline_handler.cpp
+++ b/src/libcamera/pipeline_handler.cpp
@@ -523,6 +523,22 @@ void PipelineHandler::prepareInternalBuffer(Buffer *buffer, Request *request,
 	buffer->mem_ = mem;
 }
 
+/**
+ * \brief Helper to process meta data from the IPA
+ * \param[in] request The request to associate the \a metaData with
+ * \param[in] metaData The meta data to process
+ *
+ * This function is a helper for pipline handler implementations to process
+ * meta data retrived from an IPA. It is mandatory to call this function with
+ * any meta data returned from the IPA before it's passed to the application.
+ */
+void PipelineHandler::processMetaData(Request *request,
+				      const IPAMetaData &metaData)
+{
+	request->metaData_ = metaData;
+	request->metaData_.ready = true;
+}
+
 /**
  * \brief Slot for the MediaDevice disconnected signal
  */