diff --git a/lib/Template/Document.pm b/lib/Template/Document.pm
index 5f829a94..afe0b164 100644
--- a/lib/Template/Document.pm
+++ b/lib/Template/Document.pm
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ use strict;
 use warnings;
 use base 'Template::Base';
 use Template::Constants;
+use Template::Exception;
 
 our $VERSION = '3.100';
 our $DEBUG   = 0 unless defined $DEBUG;
@@ -205,8 +206,14 @@ sub AUTOLOAD {
 
     $method =~ s/.*:://;
     return if $method eq 'DESTROY';
-#    my ($pkg, $file, $line) = caller();
-#    print STDERR "called $self->AUTOLOAD($method) from $file line $line\n";
+
+    # metadata items are read-only; throw an error if called with arguments
+    # (which indicates an assignment attempt via the stash)
+    if (@_) {
+        die Template::Exception->new('file',
+            "template metadata item '$method' is read-only");
+    }
+
     return $self->{ $method };
 }
 
diff --git a/t/document.t b/t/document.t
index 586522bb..7725fb37 100644
--- a/t/document.t
+++ b/t/document.t
@@ -143,6 +143,25 @@ title: My Template Title
 -- expect --
 some output
 
+-- test --
+# GH #270: assigning to template metadata should throw, not silently fail
+[% META foo = 'bar' -%]
+[% TRY -%]
+[% template.foo = 'blech' -%]
+ERROR: no exception raised
+[% CATCH file -%]
+OK: [% error.info %]
+[% END %]
+-- expect --
+OK: template metadata item 'foo' is read-only
+
+-- test --
+# reading metadata still works after the readonly check
+[% META title = 'Read Test' version = 42 -%]
+title=[% template.title %] version=[% template.version %]
+-- expect --
+title=Read Test version=42
+
 -- stop --
 # test for component.caller and component.callers patch
 -- test --