diff --git a/History.md b/History.md
index ce80448..f3cf2c2 100644
--- a/History.md
+++ b/History.md
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
 
+0.0.5 - February 7, 2013
+------------------------
+* stringify `contents` on the original file data
+
 0.0.4 - February 6, 2013
 ------------------------
 * switch to `extend` from `defaults` to avoid cloning
diff --git a/lib/index.js b/lib/index.js
index ae2d484..fc40e87 100644
--- a/lib/index.js
+++ b/lib/index.js
@@ -28,17 +28,19 @@ function plugin(opts){
     each(Object.keys(files), convert, done);
 
     function convert(file, done){
+      debug('checking file: %s', file);
+      var data = files[file];
+      if (!data.template) return done();
+
       debug('converting file: %s', file);
-      var data = extend({}, metadata, files[file]);
-      var template = data.template;
-      if (!template) return done();
-      var tmpl = metalsmith.join(opts.dir, template);
-      debug('stringify file: %s', file);
       data.contents = data.contents.toString();
-      consolidate[opts.engine](tmpl, data, function(err, str){
+      var tmpl = metalsmith.join(opts.dir, data.template);
+      var clone = extend({}, metadata, data);
+
+      consolidate[opts.engine](tmpl, clone, function(err, str){
         if (err) return done(err);
+        data.contents = new Buffer(str);
         debug('converted file: %s', file);
-        files[file].contents = new Buffer(str);
         done();
       });
     }
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 015585d..86f349e 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   "name": "metalsmith-templates",
   "description": "A metalsmith plugin to render files with templates.",
   "repository": "git://github.com/segmentio/metalsmith-templates.git",
-  "version": "0.0.4",
+  "version": "0.0.5",
   "license": "MIT",
   "main": "lib/index.js",
   "dependencies": {