diff --git a/util.lua b/util.lua
index e857e79..7763e5a 100644
--- a/util.lua
+++ b/util.lua
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ digtron.mark_diggable = function(pos, nodes_dug, player)
 	elseif (targetdef.diggable or targetdef.buildable_to) and
 		(targetdef.can_dig == nil or targetdef.can_dig(pos, player)) and
 		targetdef.on_dig == minetest.nodedef_default.on_dig and
+		not targetdef.preserve_metadata and
 		target.name ~= "air" then
 		nodes_dug:set(pos.x, pos.y, pos.z, true)
 		local in_known_group = false
@@ -94,16 +95,7 @@ digtron.mark_diggable = function(pos, nodes_dug, player)
 			end
 		end
 
-		local drops = minetest.get_node_drops(target.name, "")
-
-		if targetdef.preserve_metadata ~= nil then
-			local targetmeta = minetest.get_meta(pos):to_table()
-			-- preserve_metadata may modify all its parameters, but
-			-- we only care about the modified drops, anyway
-			targetdef.preserve_metadata(pos, target, targetmeta.fields, drops)
-		end
-
-		return material_cost, drops
+		return material_cost, minetest.get_node_drops(target.name, "")
 	end
 	return 0
 end