diff --git a/messages/deploy.metadata.md b/messages/deploy.metadata.md
index 435514a9..50243502 100644
--- a/messages/deploy.metadata.md
+++ b/messages/deploy.metadata.md
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ Overrides your default org.
 
 # flags.metadata.summary
 
-Metadata component names to deploy. Wildcards ( * ) supported as long as you use quotes, such as 'ApexClass:MyClass*'
+Metadata component names to deploy. Wildcards ( `*` ) supported as long as you use quotes, such as `ApexClass:MyClass*`
 
 # flags.test-level.summary
 
@@ -246,4 +246,4 @@ The `pushPackageDirectoriesSequentially` property is not respected by this comma
 
 # apiVersionMsgDetailed
 
-%s v%s metadata to %s using the v%s %s API.
+%s %s metadata to %s using the v%s %s API.
diff --git a/src/commands/project/deploy/start.ts b/src/commands/project/deploy/start.ts
index 54ae444c..dc215a0b 100644
--- a/src/commands/project/deploy/start.ts
+++ b/src/commands/project/deploy/start.ts
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ export default class DeployMetadata extends SfCommand<DeployResultJson> {
       this.log(
         messages.getMessage('apiVersionMsgDetailed', [
           action,
-          apiData.manifestVersion,
+          flags['metadata-dir'] ? '<version specified in manifest>' : `v${apiData.manifestVersion}`,
           username,
           apiData.apiVersion,
           apiData.webService,
diff --git a/src/commands/project/deploy/validate.ts b/src/commands/project/deploy/validate.ts
index a88a4e92..5a5b81df 100644
--- a/src/commands/project/deploy/validate.ts
+++ b/src/commands/project/deploy/validate.ts
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ export default class DeployMetadataValidate extends SfCommand<DeployResultJson>
       this.log(
         deployMessages.getMessage('apiVersionMsgDetailed', [
           'Validating Deployment of',
-          apiData.manifestVersion,
+          flags['metadata-dir'] ? '<version specified in manifest>' : `v${apiData.manifestVersion}`,
           username,
           apiData.apiVersion,
           apiData.webService,
diff --git a/src/commands/project/retrieve/start.ts b/src/commands/project/retrieve/start.ts
index 42d01edc..d460f24f 100644
--- a/src/commands/project/retrieve/start.ts
+++ b/src/commands/project/retrieve/start.ts
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ export default class RetrieveMetadata extends SfCommand<RetrieveResultJson> {
         this.log(
           messages.getMessage('apiVersionMsgDetailed', [
             'Retrieving',
-            apiData.manifestVersion,
+            `v${apiData.manifestVersion}`,
             flags['target-org'].getUsername(),
             apiData.apiVersion,
           ])
diff --git a/src/utils/deploy.ts b/src/utils/deploy.ts
index 84b23a0f..697ffb87 100644
--- a/src/utils/deploy.ts
+++ b/src/utils/deploy.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import {
   ComponentSetBuilder,
   DeployResult,
   MetadataApiDeploy,
+  MetadataApiDeployOptions,
   RequestStatus,
 } from '@salesforce/source-deploy-retrieve';
 import { SourceTracking } from '@salesforce/source-tracking';
@@ -119,21 +120,14 @@ export async function executeDeploy(
   id?: string,
   throwOnEmpty = false
 ): Promise<{ deploy?: MetadataApiDeploy; componentSet?: ComponentSet }> {
-  const apiOptions = {
-    checkOnly: opts['dry-run'] ?? false,
-    ignoreWarnings: opts['ignore-warnings'] ?? false,
-    rest: opts.api === 'REST',
-    rollbackOnError: !opts['ignore-errors'] || false,
-    ...(opts.tests ? { runTests: opts.tests } : {}),
-    ...(opts['test-level'] ? { testLevel: opts['test-level'] } : {}),
-    purgeOnDelete: opts['purge-on-delete'] ?? false,
-  };
+  const apiOptions = buildApiOptions(opts);
 
   let deploy: MetadataApiDeploy | undefined;
   let componentSet: ComponentSet | undefined;
 
   const org = await Org.create({ aliasOrUsername: opts['target-org'] });
-  const usernameOrConnection = org.getConnection();
+  // for mdapi deploys, use the passed in api-version.
+  const usernameOrConnection = org.getConnection(opts['metadata-dir'] ? opts['api-version'] : undefined);
 
   if (opts['metadata-dir']) {
     if (id) {
@@ -233,3 +227,14 @@ export const isNotResumable = (status?: RequestStatus): boolean =>
   [RequestStatus.Succeeded, RequestStatus.Failed, RequestStatus.SucceededPartial, RequestStatus.Canceled].includes(
     status
   );
+
+/** apply some defaults to the DeployOptions object  */
+const buildApiOptions = (opts: Partial<DeployOptions>): MetadataApiDeployOptions['apiOptions'] => ({
+  checkOnly: opts['dry-run'] ?? false,
+  ignoreWarnings: opts['ignore-warnings'] ?? false,
+  rest: opts.api === 'REST',
+  rollbackOnError: !opts['ignore-errors'] || false,
+  ...(opts.tests ? { runTests: opts.tests } : {}),
+  ...(opts['test-level'] ? { testLevel: opts['test-level'] } : {}),
+  purgeOnDelete: opts['purge-on-delete'] ?? false,
+});