diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0396245..0e7161e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ The alias `m` can be used as a shortcut.
 The _seneca-mesh_ plugin accepts the following set of options. Specify these when loading the plugin:
 
 ```js
-require('seneca')
+require('seneca')()
     .use('mesh', {
       // options go here
     })
diff --git a/mesh.js b/mesh.js
index 44cc370..236bd50 100644
--- a/mesh.js
+++ b/mesh.js
@@ -263,17 +263,17 @@ function mesh (options) {
 
             var pins = config.pins || config.pin || []
             pins = _.isArray(pins) ? pins : [pins]
+            var client_config = _.omit(config, ['pins', 'pin'])
 
             _.each(pins, function (pin) {
-              var pin_id = instance.util.pattern(pin)
+              var pin_id = instance.util.pattern(pin.pin || pin)
               var has_balance_client = !!balance_map[pin_id]
               var target_map = (balance_map[pin_id] = balance_map[pin_id] || {})
 
-              var pin_config = _.clone(config)
-              delete pin_config.pins
-              delete pin_config.pin
-
-              pin_config.pin = pin_id
+              var pin_config = _.extend({}, client_config, {
+                pin: pin_id,
+                model: pin.model || client_config.model
+              })
 
               var id = instance.util.pattern(pin_config) + '~' + meta.identifier$
 
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ function mesh (options) {
               pin_config.id = id
 
               // TODO: how to handle local override?
-              var actmeta = instance.find(pin)
+              var actmeta = instance.find(pin_id)
               var ignore_client = !!(actmeta && !actmeta.client)
 
               if (ignore_client) {
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ function mesh (options) {
 
               if (!has_balance_client) {
                 // no balancer for this pin, so add one
-                instance.root.client({type: 'balance', pin: pin, model: config.model})
+                instance.root.client({type: 'balance', pin: pin_id, model: pin_config.model})
               }
 
               target_map[id] = true