diff --git a/augur/merge.py b/augur/merge.py
index a1401a25a..bf98968d8 100644
--- a/augur/merge.py
+++ b/augur/merge.py
@@ -94,6 +94,11 @@ def register_parser(parent_subparsers):
 
 
 def run(args):
+    if args.metadata:
+        merge_metadata(args)
+
+
+def merge_metadata(args):
     print_info = print_err if not args.quiet else lambda *_: None
 
     # Parse --metadata arguments