diff --git a/lib/bigquery/dataset.js b/lib/bigquery/dataset.js
index f096e68d6eb..9eef048dbbf 100644
--- a/lib/bigquery/dataset.js
+++ b/lib/bigquery/dataset.js
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ Dataset.prototype.query = function(options, callback) {
 Dataset.prototype.setMetadata = function(metadata, callback) {
   var that = this;
 
-  this.makeReq_('PUT', '', null, metadata, function(err, resp) {
+  this.makeReq_('PATCH', '', null, metadata, function(err, resp) {
     if (err) {
       callback(err);
       return;
diff --git a/test/bigquery/dataset.js b/test/bigquery/dataset.js
index ad90613f3f5..eb9e434e151 100644
--- a/test/bigquery/dataset.js
+++ b/test/bigquery/dataset.js
@@ -345,7 +345,7 @@ describe('BigQuery/Dataset', function() {
 
     it('should send request to the api', function(done) {
       ds.makeReq_ = function(method, path, query, body) {
-        assert.equal(method, 'PUT');
+        assert.equal(method, 'PATCH');
         assert.equal(path, '');
         assert.strictEqual(query, null);
         assert.deepEqual(body, METADATA);