diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/index.ts b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/index.ts
index f0f2462019..6e0a6d979e 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/index.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/index.ts
@@ -72,6 +72,11 @@ export const save = async (ctx: UserCtx<Row, Row>) => {
   const tableId = utils.getTableId(ctx)
   const body = ctx.request.body
 
+  // user metadata doesn't exist yet - don't allow creation
+  if (utils.isUserMetadataTable(tableId) && !body._rev) {
+    ctx.throw(400, "Cannot create new user entry.")
+  }
+
   // if it has an ID already then its a patch
   if (body && body._id) {
     return patch(ctx as UserCtx<PatchRowRequest, PatchRowResponse>)
diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/utils.ts b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/utils.ts
index 192ba2109c..5f10fd9ad4 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/utils.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/utils.ts
@@ -175,3 +175,7 @@ export function removeEmptyFilters(filters: SearchFilters) {
   }
   return filters
 }
+
+export function isUserMetadataTable(tableId: string) {
+  return tableId === InternalTables.USER_METADATA
+}