diff --git a/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/models/comp_runs.py b/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/models/comp_runs.py
index 7bca7230247..a94082662a8 100644
--- a/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/models/comp_runs.py
+++ b/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/models/comp_runs.py
@@ -62,6 +62,13 @@ def ensure_utc(cls, v: datetime.datetime | None) -> datetime.datetime | None:
             v = v.replace(tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc)
         return v
 
+    @validator("metadata", pre=True)
+    @classmethod
+    def convert_null_to_empty_metadata(cls, v):
+        if v is None:
+            v = RunMetadataDict()
+        return v
+
     class Config:
         orm_mode = True
         schema_extra: ClassVar[dict[str, Any]] = {