diff --git a/datasette/app.py b/datasette/app.py
index c2e685ee..1c730a73 100644
--- a/datasette/app.py
+++ b/datasette/app.py
@@ -456,7 +456,7 @@ class Datasette:
         # step 2: database-level metadata
         for dbname, db in self._metadata_local.get("databases", {}).items():
             for key, value in db.items():
-                if key == "tables":
+                if key in ("tables", "queries"):
                     continue
                 await self.set_database_metadata(dbname, key, value)
 
diff --git a/tests/test_internals_datasette.py b/tests/test_internals_datasette.py
index 2614e02e..135a9099 100644
--- a/tests/test_internals_datasette.py
+++ b/tests/test_internals_datasette.py
@@ -173,3 +173,23 @@ async def test_get_permission(ds_client):
     # And test KeyError
     with pytest.raises(KeyError):
         ds.get_permission("missing-permission")
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_apply_metadata_json():
+    ds = Datasette(
+        metadata={
+            "databases": {
+                "legislators": {
+                    "tables": {"offices": {"summary": "office address or sumtin"}},
+                    "queries": {
+                        "millenntial_represetatives": {
+                            "summary": "Social media accounts for current legislators"
+                        }
+                    },
+                }
+            }
+        },
+    )
+    await ds.invoke_startup()
+    assert (await ds.client.get("/")).status_code == 200