diff --git a/command/agent/agent.go b/command/agent/agent.go
index 4b71fcce99..2753d31592 100644
--- a/command/agent/agent.go
+++ b/command/agent/agent.go
@@ -47,13 +47,13 @@ const (
 	metaKeyReservedPrefix = "consul-"
 
 	// The maximum number of metadata key pairs allowed to be registered
-	metaMaxKeyPairs       = 64
+	metaMaxKeyPairs = 64
 
 	// The maximum allowed length of a metadata key
-	metaKeyMaxLength      = 128
+	metaKeyMaxLength = 128
 
 	// The maximum allowed length of a metadata value
-	metaValueMaxLength    = 512
+	metaValueMaxLength = 512
 )
 
 var (
@@ -1728,9 +1728,6 @@ func validateMetaPair(key, value string) error {
 	if len(key) > metaKeyMaxLength {
 		return fmt.Errorf("Key is longer than %d chars", metaKeyMaxLength)
 	}
-	if strings.Contains(key, ":") {
-		return fmt.Errorf("Key contains ':' character")
-	}
 	if strings.HasPrefix(key, metaKeyReservedPrefix) {
 		return fmt.Errorf("Key prefix '%s' is reserved for internal use", metaKeyReservedPrefix)
 	}
diff --git a/command/agent/agent_test.go b/command/agent/agent_test.go
index 42e3269f74..3306da2854 100644
--- a/command/agent/agent_test.go
+++ b/command/agent/agent_test.go
@@ -1901,8 +1901,6 @@ func TestAgent_validateMetaPair(t *testing.T) {
 		{"", "value", false},
 		// allowed special chars in key name
 		{"k_e-y", "value", true},
-		// ':' in key name
-		{"k:ey", "value", false},
 		// disallowed special chars in key name
 		{"(%key&)", "value", false},
 		// key too long
diff --git a/consul/structs/structs_test.go b/consul/structs/structs_test.go
index 13714e993e..c1a39c4f99 100644
--- a/consul/structs/structs_test.go
+++ b/consul/structs/structs_test.go
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ func TestStructs_RegisterRequest_ChangesNode(t *testing.T) {
 	check(func() { req.Node = "nope" }, func() { req.Node = "test" })
 	check(func() { req.Address = "127.0.0.2" }, func() { req.Address = "127.0.0.1" })
 	check(func() { req.TaggedAddresses["wan"] = "nope" }, func() { delete(req.TaggedAddresses, "wan") })
-	check(func() { req.NodeMeta["invalid"] = "nope" }, func() { delete(req.NodeMeta, "invalid")})
+	check(func() { req.NodeMeta["invalid"] = "nope" }, func() { delete(req.NodeMeta, "invalid") })
 
 	if !req.ChangesNode(nil) {
 		t.Fatalf("should change")