diff --git a/xbps-src/shutils/metadata.sh b/xbps-src/shutils/metadata.sh
index 00117bc753c..9dbb9eca7e7 100644
--- a/xbps-src/shutils/metadata.sh
+++ b/xbps-src/shutils/metadata.sh
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ xbps_write_metadata_pkg()
 #
 xbps_write_metadata_pkg_real()
 {
-	local metadir=${XBPS_PKGMETADIR}/$pkgname
+	local metadir=${DESTDIR}/var/db/xbps/metadata/$pkgname
 	local f i j found arch dirat lnkat newlnk lver TMPFLIST TMPFPLIST
 	local fpattern="s|${DESTDIR}||g;s|^\./$||g;/^$/d"