diff --git a/mongoframes/frames.py b/mongoframes/frames.py
index 57807c0..a62a49c 100644
--- a/mongoframes/frames.py
+++ b/mongoframes/frames.py
@@ -638,18 +638,26 @@ def _flatten_projection(cls, projection):
         inclusive = True
         for key, value in deepcopy(projection).items():
             if isinstance(value, dict):
-                # Check for $meta projections
-                if '$meta' in value:
-                    flat_projection[key] = value
-                    continue
+
+                # Build the projection value for the field (allowing for
+                # special mongo directives).
+                project_value = {
+                    k: v for k, v in value.items()
+                    if k.startswith('$') and k not in ['$ref', '$sub', '$sub.']
+                }
+                if len(project_value) == 0:
+                    project_value = True
+                else:
+                    inclusive = False
 
                 # Store a reference/sub-frame projection
                 if '$ref' in value:
                     references[key] = value
+
                 elif '$sub' in value or '$sub.' in value:
                     subs[key] = value
 
-                flat_projection[key] = True
+                flat_projection[key] = project_value
 
             elif key == '$ref':
                 # Strip any $ref key
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index a10711f..e8b66c8 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
     # Versions should comply with PEP440.  For a discussion on single-sourcing
     # the version across setup.py and the project code, see
     # https://packaging.python.org/en/latest/single_source_version.html
-    version='1.2.12',
+    version='1.2.13',
     description='A fast unobtrusive MongoDB ODM for Python',
     long_description=long_description,