diff --git a/metadata/containers.go b/metadata/containers.go
index 29d3e22c1..26e86d858 100644
--- a/metadata/containers.go
+++ b/metadata/containers.go
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ func validateContainer(container *containers.Container) error {
 
 	// image has no validation
 	for k, v := range container.Labels {
-		if err := labels.Validate(k, v); err == nil {
+		if err := labels.Validate(k, v); err != nil {
 			return errors.Wrapf(err, "containers.Labels")
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/metadata/content.go b/metadata/content.go
index 190b7bed7..a3858afec 100644
--- a/metadata/content.go
+++ b/metadata/content.go
@@ -708,7 +708,7 @@ func (cs *contentStore) checkAccess(ctx context.Context, dgst digest.Digest) err
 
 func validateInfo(info *content.Info) error {
 	for k, v := range info.Labels {
-		if err := labels.Validate(k, v); err == nil {
+		if err := labels.Validate(k, v); err != nil {
 			return errors.Wrapf(err, "info.Labels")
 		}
 	}