diff --git a/builder/oracle/oci/config.go b/builder/oracle/oci/config.go
index 16e80f2b0..eda312ee2 100644
--- a/builder/oracle/oci/config.go
+++ b/builder/oracle/oci/config.go
@@ -48,8 +48,12 @@ type Config struct {
 	// Instance
 	InstanceName string `mapstructure:"instance_name"`
 
-	// MetaData is optional but will be constructed to include UserData or UserDataFile under the "user_data" key
-	MetaData map[string]string `mapstructure:"metadata"`
+	// Metadata optionally contains custom metadata key/value pairs provided in the
+	// configuration. While this can be used to set metadata["user_data"] the explicit
+	// "user_data" and "user_data_file" values will have precedence.
+	// An instance's metadata can be obtained from at http://169.254.169.254 on the
+	// launched instance.
+	Metadata map[string]string `mapstructure:"metadata"`
 
 	// UserData and UserDataFile file are both optional and mutually exclusive.
 	UserData     string `mapstructure:"user_data"`
diff --git a/builder/oracle/oci/config_test.go b/builder/oracle/oci/config_test.go
index b590bf392..51cbb386d 100644
--- a/builder/oracle/oci/config_test.go
+++ b/builder/oracle/oci/config_test.go
@@ -238,7 +238,6 @@ func TestConfig(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Errorf("Expected ConfigProvider.KeyFingerprint: %s, got %s", expected, fingerprint)
 		}
 	})
-
 }
 
 // BaseTestConfig creates the base (DEFAULT) config including a temporary key
diff --git a/builder/oracle/oci/driver_oci.go b/builder/oracle/oci/driver_oci.go
index b1386b8c6..138bb6474 100644
--- a/builder/oracle/oci/driver_oci.go
+++ b/builder/oracle/oci/driver_oci.go
@@ -42,8 +42,8 @@ func (d *driverOCI) CreateInstance(ctx context.Context, publicKey string) (strin
 	metadata := map[string]string{
 		"ssh_authorized_keys": publicKey,
 	}
-	if d.cfg.MetaData != nil {
-		for key, value := range d.cfg.MetaData {
+	if d.cfg.Metadata != nil {
+		for key, value := range d.cfg.Metadata {
 			metadata[key] = value
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/website/source/docs/builders/oracle-oci.html.md b/website/source/docs/builders/oracle-oci.html.md
index b651196d1..e2360a5c1 100644
--- a/website/source/docs/builders/oracle-oci.html.md
+++ b/website/source/docs/builders/oracle-oci.html.md
@@ -125,7 +125,9 @@ builder.
 
  -  `use_private_ip` (boolean) - Use private ip addresses to connect to the instance via ssh.
 
- - `metadata` (map of strings) - Metadata to be injected in the build instance.
+ - `metadata` (map of strings) - Metadata optionally contains custom metadata key/value pairs provided in the
+configuration. While this can be used to set metadata["user_data"] the explicit "user_data" and "user_data_file" values will have precedence. An instance's metadata can be obtained from at http://169.254.169.254 on the
+launched instance.
 
  - `user_data` (string) - user_data to be used by cloud
    init. See [the Oracle docs](https://docs.us-phoenix-1.oraclecloud.com/api/#/en/iaas/20160918/LaunchInstanceDetails) for more details. Generally speaking, it is easier to use the `user_data_file`,