diff --git a/senlin/objects/base.py b/senlin/objects/base.py
index 3d344b2ef..6143e2aa2 100644
--- a/senlin/objects/base.py
+++ b/senlin/objects/base.py
@@ -47,6 +47,14 @@ class SenlinObject(base.VersionedObject):
 
         return obj
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def _transpose_metadata(values):
+        """Utility function to translate metadata field."""
+        if 'metadata' in values:
+            value = values.pop('metadata')
+            values['meta_data'] = value
+        return values
+
 
 class SenlinObjectRegistry(base.VersionedObjectRegistry):
 
diff --git a/senlin/objects/cluster.py b/senlin/objects/cluster.py
index ffca8c0b1..581bebde8 100644
--- a/senlin/objects/cluster.py
+++ b/senlin/objects/cluster.py
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ class Cluster(base.SenlinObject, base.VersionedObjectDictCompat):
 
     @classmethod
     def create(cls, context, values):
+        values = cls._transpose_metadata(values)
         obj = db_api.cluster_create(context, values)
         return cls._from_db_object(context, cls(context), obj)
 
@@ -78,7 +79,8 @@ class Cluster(base.SenlinObject, base.VersionedObjectDictCompat):
 
     @classmethod
     def update(cls, context, obj_id, values):
-        db_api.cluster_update(context, obj_id, values)
+        values = cls._transpose_metadata(values)
+        return db_api.cluster_update(context, obj_id, values)
 
     @classmethod
     def delete(cls, context, obj_id):
diff --git a/senlin/objects/node.py b/senlin/objects/node.py
index d4277a254..95b878f2a 100644
--- a/senlin/objects/node.py
+++ b/senlin/objects/node.py
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ class Node(base.SenlinObject, base.VersionedObjectDictCompat):
 
     @classmethod
     def create(cls, context, values):
+        values = cls._transpose_metadata(values)
         obj = db_api.node_create(context, values)
         return cls._from_db_object(context, cls(context), obj)
 
@@ -78,6 +79,7 @@ class Node(base.SenlinObject, base.VersionedObjectDictCompat):
 
     @classmethod
     def update(cls, context, obj_id, values):
+        values = cls._transpose_metadata(values)
         db_api.node_update(context, obj_id, values)
 
     @classmethod
diff --git a/senlin/objects/policy.py b/senlin/objects/policy.py
index 99fffa5f8..689ffd9fc 100644
--- a/senlin/objects/policy.py
+++ b/senlin/objects/policy.py
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ class Policy(base.SenlinObject, base.VersionedObjectDictCompat):
 
     @classmethod
     def create(cls, context, values):
+        values = cls._transpose_metadata(values)
         obj = db_api.policy_create(context, values)
         return cls._from_db_object(context, cls(context), obj)
 
@@ -63,6 +64,7 @@ class Policy(base.SenlinObject, base.VersionedObjectDictCompat):
 
     @classmethod
     def update(cls, context, obj_id, values):
+        values = cls._transpose_metadata(values)
         obj = db_api.policy_update(context, obj_id, values)
         return cls._from_db_object(context, cls(), obj)
 
diff --git a/senlin/objects/profile.py b/senlin/objects/profile.py
index 6c20e4314..9a70fe24e 100644
--- a/senlin/objects/profile.py
+++ b/senlin/objects/profile.py
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ class Profile(base.SenlinObject, base.VersionedObjectDictCompat):
 
     @classmethod
     def create(cls, context, values):
+        values = cls._transpose_metadata(values)
         obj = db_api.profile_create(context, values)
         return cls._from_db_object(context, cls(context), obj)
 
@@ -63,6 +64,7 @@ class Profile(base.SenlinObject, base.VersionedObjectDictCompat):
 
     @classmethod
     def update(cls, context, obj_id, values):
+        values = cls._transpose_metadata(values)
         obj = db_api.profile_update(context, obj_id, values)
         return cls._from_db_object(context, cls(), obj)