diff --git a/lib/metadata/metadata.c b/lib/metadata/metadata.c
index cdf2beeb4..d6ba01524 100644
--- a/lib/metadata/metadata.c
+++ b/lib/metadata/metadata.c
@@ -58,6 +58,8 @@ static struct pv_list *_find_pv_in_vg_by_uuid(const struct volume_group *vg,
 static uint32_t _vg_bad_status_bits(const struct volume_group *vg,
 				    uint64_t status);
 
+static int _vg_adjust_ignored_mdas(struct volume_group *vg);
+
 const char _really_init[] =
     "Really INITIALIZE physical volume \"%s\" of volume group \"%s\" [y/n]? ";
 
@@ -989,6 +991,93 @@ static int _recalc_extents(uint32_t *extents, const char *desc1,
 	return 1;
 }
 
+static int _vg_ignore_mdas(struct volume_group *vg, uint32_t num_to_ignore)
+{
+	struct metadata_area *mda;
+
+	if (!num_to_ignore)
+		return 1;
+	/* FIXME: flip bits on random mdas */
+	dm_list_iterate_items(mda, &vg->fid->metadata_areas_in_use) {
+		if (!mda_is_ignored(mda)) {
+			mda_set_ignored(mda, 1);
+			num_to_ignore--;
+		}
+		if (!num_to_ignore)
+			return 1;
+	}
+	log_error("Unable to find %"PRIu32" metadata areas to ignore "
+		  "on volume group %s", num_to_ignore, vg->name);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int _vg_unignore_mdas(struct volume_group *vg, uint32_t num_to_unignore)
+{
+	struct metadata_area *mda, *tmda;
+
+	if (!num_to_unignore)
+		return 1;
+	/* FIXME: flip bits on random mdas */
+	dm_list_iterate_items_safe(mda, tmda, &vg->fid->metadata_areas_ignored) {
+		if (mda_is_ignored(mda)) {
+			mda_set_ignored(mda, 0);
+			dm_list_move(&vg->fid->metadata_areas_in_use,
+				     &mda->list);
+			num_to_unignore--;
+		}
+		if (!num_to_unignore)
+			return 1;
+	}
+	dm_list_iterate_items(mda, &vg->fid->metadata_areas_in_use) {
+		if (mda_is_ignored(mda)) {
+			mda_set_ignored(mda, 0);
+			num_to_unignore--;
+		}
+		if (!num_to_unignore)
+			return 1;
+	}
+	log_error("Unable to find %"PRIu32" metadata areas to un-ignore "
+		  "on volume group %s", num_to_unignore, vg->name);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int _vg_adjust_ignored_mdas(struct volume_group *vg)
+{
+	uint32_t mda_copies, count;
+	int ret = 1;
+
+	mda_copies = vg_mda_used_count(vg);
+	if (!vg->mda_copies)
+		goto skip_adjust;
+
+	if (mda_copies > vg->mda_copies) {
+		ret = _vg_ignore_mdas(vg, mda_copies - vg->mda_copies);
+	} else if (mda_copies < vg->mda_copies) {
+		/* not an error to have vg_mda_count larger than total mdas */
+		if (vg->mda_copies >= vg_mda_count(vg))
+			count = vg_mda_count(vg) - vg_mda_used_count(vg);
+		else
+			count = vg->mda_copies - mda_copies;
+		ret = _vg_unignore_mdas(vg, count);
+	}
+	if (!ret)
+		return ret;
+
+skip_adjust:
+	/*
+	 * Ensure at least one mda in use.
+	 * FIXME: check size of fid->metadata_areas_in_use; reason is because
+	 * of how pv_setup works in the case of a pv with 2 mdas, one ignored
+	 * and another not ignored; function needs refactoring to simplify the
+	 * below check and retain correctness.
+	 */
+	if (!dm_list_size(&vg->fid->metadata_areas_in_use) ||
+	    !vg_mda_used_count(vg)) {
+		ret = _vg_unignore_mdas(vg, 1);
+	}
+	return ret;
+}
+
 uint32_t vg_mda_copies(const struct volume_group *vg)
 {
 	return vg->mda_copies;
@@ -2378,6 +2467,7 @@ int vg_write(struct volume_group *vg)
 		return 0;
 	}
 
+	_vg_adjust_ignored_mdas(vg);
 
 	if (dm_list_empty(&vg->fid->metadata_areas_in_use)) {
 		log_error("Aborting vg_write: No metadata areas to write to!");