diff --git a/R/as.s2dv_cube.R b/R/as.s2dv_cube.R
index 453f51dc2a4b0ed4f34f35814b48132a4cff6aee..5f01ec7faec3abb3c4c024ebf31eabdbdad343d4 100644
--- a/R/as.s2dv_cube.R
+++ b/R/as.s2dv_cube.R
@@ -303,7 +303,9 @@ as.s2dv_cube <- function(object, remove_attrs_coords = FALSE,
               result$attrs$Dates <- attr_variable
             }
           }
-          result$attrs$Variable$metadata[[var]] <- attr_variable
+          if (is.null(result$attrs$Variable$metadata[[var]])) {
+            result$attrs$Variable$metadata[[var]] <- attr_variable
+          }
         }
       }
     }