diff --git a/src/complex.jl b/src/complex.jl
index d1e7b4769..cd6c44607 100644
--- a/src/complex.jl
+++ b/src/complex.jl
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ symtype(a::ComplexTerm{T}) where T = Complex{T}
 istree(a::ComplexTerm) = true
 operation(a::ComplexTerm{T}) where T = Complex{T}
 arguments(a::ComplexTerm) = [a.re, a.im]
-metadata(a::ComplexTerm) = a.re.metadata
+metadata(a::ComplexTerm) = metadata(a.re)
 
 function similarterm(t::ComplexTerm, f, args, symtype; metadata=nothing)
     if f <: Complex