diff --git a/artiq/frontend/artiq_master.py b/artiq/frontend/artiq_master.py
index dfd22565b..26debb1a2 100755
--- a/artiq/frontend/artiq_master.py
+++ b/artiq/frontend/artiq_master.py
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@ def main():
         "get_device_db": device_db.get_device_db,
         "get_device": device_db.get,
         "get_dataset": dataset_db.get,
+        "get_dataset_metadata": dataset_db.get_metadata,
         "update_dataset": dataset_db.update,
         "get_interactive_arguments": get_interactive_arguments,
         "scheduler_submit": scheduler.submit,
diff --git a/artiq/master/worker_impl.py b/artiq/master/worker_impl.py
index bf0bfd587..9f928b4d0 100644
--- a/artiq/master/worker_impl.py
+++ b/artiq/master/worker_impl.py
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ class ParentDeviceDB:
 class ParentDatasetDB:
     get = make_parent_action("get_dataset")
     update = make_parent_action("update_dataset")
+    get_metadata = make_parent_action("get_dataset_metadata")
 
 
 class Watchdog:
@@ -186,6 +187,10 @@ class ExamineDatasetMgr:
     def get(key, archive=False):
         return ParentDatasetDB.get(key)
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def get_metadata(key):
+        return ParentDatasetDB.get_metadata(key)
+
 
 def examine(device_mgr, dataset_mgr, file):
     previous_keys = set(sys.modules.keys())