diff --git a/rosdoc2/verbs/build/builders/index.rst.jinja b/rosdoc2/verbs/build/builders/index.rst.jinja
index 7f6ac70..4a554c6 100644
--- a/rosdoc2/verbs/build/builders/index.rst.jinja
+++ b/rosdoc2/verbs/build/builders/index.rst.jinja
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ Welcome to the documentation for {{ package.name }}
 {% if interface_counts['srv'] > 0 %}   Service Definitions <interfaces/service_definitions>{% endif %}
 {% if interface_counts['action'] > 0 %}   Action Definitions <interfaces/action_definitions>{% endif %}
 {% if has_standard_docs %}   Standard Documents <standards>{% endif %}
-{% if not package.build_depends and package.exec_depends %}
+{% if is_meta %}
 Dependencies of this META package
 ---------------------------------
 {% for dependency in package.exec_depends %}
diff --git a/rosdoc2/verbs/build/builders/sphinx_builder.py b/rosdoc2/verbs/build/builders/sphinx_builder.py
index 4c88f6e..07dfa2f 100644
--- a/rosdoc2/verbs/build/builders/sphinx_builder.py
+++ b/rosdoc2/verbs/build/builders/sphinx_builder.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 import json
 import logging
 import os
+from pathlib import Path
 import shutil
 import subprocess
 
@@ -471,6 +472,21 @@ def build(self, *, doc_build_folder, output_staging_directory):
 
         always_run_doxygen = build_context.always_run_doxygen
         has_cpp = build_context.build_type in ['ament_cmake', 'cmake'] or always_run_doxygen
+        package = self.build_context.package
+
+        # Detect meta packages. They have no build_dependencies, do have exec_dependencies,
+        # and have no subdirectories except for possibly 'doc'.
+        is_meta = True
+        if package.build_depends or not package.exec_depends:
+            is_meta = False
+        else:
+            pp = Path(package_xml_directory)
+            subdirectories = [x for x in pp.iterdir() if x.is_dir()]
+            for subdirectory in subdirectories:
+                if subdirectory.name != 'doc':
+                    is_meta = False
+                    continue
+
         self.template_variables.update({
             'has_python': has_python,
             'has_cpp': has_cpp,
@@ -478,8 +494,9 @@ def build(self, *, doc_build_folder, output_staging_directory):
             'has_documentation': bool(doc_directories),
             'has_readme': 'readme' in standard_docs,
             'interface_counts': interface_counts,
-            'package': self.build_context.package,
+            'package': package,
             'base_url': base_url,
+            'is_meta': is_meta or package.is_metapackage(),
         })
 
         # Setup rosdoc2 Sphinx file which will include and extend the one in