diff --git a/include/libcamera/internal/software_isp/software_isp.h b/include/libcamera/internal/software_isp/software_isp.h
index d51b03fd..3d248aba 100644
--- a/include/libcamera/internal/software_isp/software_isp.h
+++ b/include/libcamera/internal/software_isp/software_isp.h
@@ -83,12 +83,14 @@ public:
 	Signal<FrameBuffer *> inputBufferReady;
 	Signal<FrameBuffer *> outputBufferReady;
 	Signal<uint32_t, uint32_t> ispStatsReady;
+	Signal<uint32_t, const ControlList &> metadataReady;
 	Signal<const ControlList &> setSensorControls;
 
 private:
 	void saveIspParams();
 	void setSensorCtrls(const ControlList &sensorControls);
 	void statsReady(uint32_t frame, uint32_t bufferId);
+	void saveMetadata(uint32_t frame, const ControlList &metadata);
 	void inputReady(FrameBuffer *input);
 	void outputReady(FrameBuffer *output);
 
diff --git a/include/libcamera/ipa/soft.mojom b/include/libcamera/ipa/soft.mojom
index d52e6f1a..934a6fd1 100644
--- a/include/libcamera/ipa/soft.mojom
+++ b/include/libcamera/ipa/soft.mojom
@@ -33,4 +33,5 @@ interface IPASoftInterface {
 interface IPASoftEventInterface {
 	setSensorControls(libcamera.ControlList sensorControls);
 	setIspParams();
+	metadataReady(uint32 frame, libcamera.ControlList metadata);
 };
diff --git a/src/ipa/simple/soft_simple.cpp b/src/ipa/simple/soft_simple.cpp
index b26e4e15..944c644e 100644
--- a/src/ipa/simple/soft_simple.cpp
+++ b/src/ipa/simple/soft_simple.cpp
@@ -295,15 +295,10 @@ void IPASoftSimple::processStats(const uint32_t frame,
 	int32_t again = sensorControls.get(V4L2_CID_ANALOGUE_GAIN).get<int32_t>();
 	frameContext.sensor.gain = camHelper_ ? camHelper_->gain(again) : again;
 
-	/*
-	 * Software ISP currently does not produce any metadata. Use an empty
-	 * ControlList for now.
-	 *
-	 * \todo Implement proper metadata handling
-	 */
 	ControlList metadata(controls::controls);
 	for (auto const &algo : algorithms())
 		algo->process(context_, frame, frameContext, stats_, metadata);
+	metadataReady.emit(frame, metadata);
 
 	/* Sanity check */
 	if (!sensorControls.contains(V4L2_CID_EXPOSURE) ||
diff --git a/src/libcamera/pipeline/simple/simple.cpp b/src/libcamera/pipeline/simple/simple.cpp
index 07c1cf1f..1438bb22 100644
--- a/src/libcamera/pipeline/simple/simple.cpp
+++ b/src/libcamera/pipeline/simple/simple.cpp
@@ -184,6 +184,7 @@ class SimplePipelineHandler;
 struct SimpleFrameInfo {
 	uint32_t frame;
 	Request *request;
+	bool metadataProcessed;
 };
 
 class SimpleFrames
@@ -206,6 +207,7 @@ void SimpleFrames::create(Request *request)
 	SimpleFrameInfo *info = new SimpleFrameInfo;
 	info->frame = frame;
 	info->request = request;
+	info->metadataProcessed = false;
 	frameInfo_[frame] = info;
 }
 
@@ -363,11 +365,12 @@ private:
 	void tryPipeline(unsigned int code, const Size &size);
 	static std::vector<const MediaPad *> routedSourcePads(MediaPad *sink);
 
-	void completeRequest(Request *request);
+	void completeRequest(Request *request, bool checkCompleted);
 	void conversionInputDone(FrameBuffer *buffer);
 	void conversionOutputDone(FrameBuffer *buffer);
 
 	void ispStatsReady(uint32_t frame, uint32_t bufferId);
+	void metadataReady(uint32_t frame, const ControlList &metadata);
 	void setSensorControls(const ControlList &sensorControls);
 };
 
@@ -620,6 +623,7 @@ int SimpleCameraData::init()
 			});
 			swIsp_->outputBufferReady.connect(this, &SimpleCameraData::conversionOutputDone);
 			swIsp_->ispStatsReady.connect(this, &SimpleCameraData::ispStatsReady);
+			swIsp_->metadataReady.connect(this, &SimpleCameraData::metadataReady);
 			swIsp_->setSensorControls.connect(this, &SimpleCameraData::setSensorControls);
 		}
 	}
@@ -865,7 +869,7 @@ void SimpleCameraData::imageBufferReady(FrameBuffer *buffer)
 			/* No conversion, just complete the request. */
 			Request *request = buffer->request();
 			pipe->completeBuffer(request, buffer);
-			completeRequest(request);
+			completeRequest(request, false);
 			return;
 		}
 
@@ -883,7 +887,7 @@ void SimpleCameraData::imageBufferReady(FrameBuffer *buffer)
 		const RequestOutputs &outputs = conversionQueue_.front();
 		for (auto &[stream, buf] : outputs.outputs)
 			pipe->completeBuffer(outputs.request, buf);
-		completeRequest(outputs.request);
+		completeRequest(outputs.request, false);
 		conversionQueue_.pop();
 
 		return;
@@ -941,7 +945,7 @@ void SimpleCameraData::imageBufferReady(FrameBuffer *buffer)
 
 	/* Otherwise simply complete the request. */
 	pipe->completeBuffer(request, buffer);
-	completeRequest(request);
+	completeRequest(request, false);
 }
 
 void SimpleCameraData::clearIncompleteRequests()
@@ -952,11 +956,17 @@ void SimpleCameraData::clearIncompleteRequests()
 	}
 }
 
-void SimpleCameraData::completeRequest(Request *request)
+void SimpleCameraData::completeRequest(Request *request, bool checkCompleted)
 {
+	if (checkCompleted && request->hasPendingBuffers())
+		return;
+
 	SimpleFrameInfo *info = frameInfo_.find(request);
-	if (info)
+	if (info) {
+		if (checkCompleted && !info->metadataProcessed)
+			return;
 		frameInfo_.destroy(info->frame);
+	}
 	pipe()->completeRequest(request);
 }
 
@@ -973,7 +983,7 @@ void SimpleCameraData::conversionOutputDone(FrameBuffer *buffer)
 	/* Complete the buffer and the request. */
 	Request *request = buffer->request();
 	if (pipe->completeBuffer(request, buffer))
-		completeRequest(request);
+		completeRequest(request, true);
 }
 
 void SimpleCameraData::ispStatsReady(uint32_t frame, uint32_t bufferId)
@@ -982,6 +992,17 @@ void SimpleCameraData::ispStatsReady(uint32_t frame, uint32_t bufferId)
 			     delayedCtrls_->get(frame));
 }
 
+void SimpleCameraData::metadataReady(uint32_t frame, const ControlList &metadata)
+{
+	SimpleFrameInfo *info = frameInfo_.find(frame);
+	if (!info)
+		return;
+
+	info->request->metadata().merge(metadata);
+	info->metadataProcessed = true;
+	completeRequest(info->request, true);
+}
+
 void SimpleCameraData::setSensorControls(const ControlList &sensorControls)
 {
 	delayedCtrls_->push(sensorControls);
diff --git a/src/libcamera/software_isp/software_isp.cpp b/src/libcamera/software_isp/software_isp.cpp
index 2bea64d9..bd4c25cc 100644
--- a/src/libcamera/software_isp/software_isp.cpp
+++ b/src/libcamera/software_isp/software_isp.cpp
@@ -51,6 +51,11 @@ LOG_DEFINE_CATEGORY(SoftwareIsp)
  * \brief A signal emitted when the statistics for IPA are ready
  */
 
+/**
+ * \var SoftwareIsp::metadataReady
+ * \brief A signal emitted when the metadata for IPA are ready
+ */
+
 /**
  * \var SoftwareIsp::setSensorControls
  * \brief A signal emitted when the values to write to the sensor controls are
@@ -136,6 +141,7 @@ SoftwareIsp::SoftwareIsp(PipelineHandler *pipe, const CameraSensor *sensor,
 	}
 
 	ipa_->setIspParams.connect(this, &SoftwareIsp::saveIspParams);
+	ipa_->metadataReady.connect(this, &SoftwareIsp::saveMetadata);
 	ipa_->setSensorControls.connect(this, &SoftwareIsp::setSensorCtrls);
 
 	debayer_->moveToThread(&ispWorkerThread_);
@@ -357,6 +363,11 @@ void SoftwareIsp::statsReady(uint32_t frame, uint32_t bufferId)
 	ispStatsReady.emit(frame, bufferId);
 }
 
+void SoftwareIsp::saveMetadata(uint32_t frame, const ControlList &metadata)
+{
+	metadataReady.emit(frame, metadata);
+}
+
 void SoftwareIsp::inputReady(FrameBuffer *input)
 {
 	inputBufferReady.emit(input);
