diff --git a/test/functional/test_account.py b/test/functional/test_account.py
index 30a8e74184..d0d18c0529 100755
--- a/test/functional/test_account.py
+++ b/test/functional/test_account.py
@@ -827,11 +827,19 @@ class TestAccount(unittest.TestCase):
         resp = retry(post, headers)
         resp.read()
         self.assertEqual(resp.status, 204)
+        # this POST includes metadata size that is over limit
         headers['X-Account-Meta-k'] = \
             'v' * (self.max_meta_overall_size - size)
         resp = retry(post, headers)
         resp.read()
         self.assertEqual(resp.status, 400)
+        # this last POST would be ok by itself but takes the aggregate
+        # backend metadata size over limit
+        headers = {'X-Account-Meta-k':
+                   'v' * (self.max_meta_overall_size - size)}
+        resp = retry(post, headers)
+        resp.read()
+        self.assertEqual(resp.status, 400)
 
 
 class TestAccountInNonDefaultDomain(unittest.TestCase):
diff --git a/test/functional/test_container.py b/test/functional/test_container.py
index d7896a42e7..5de866b97e 100755
--- a/test/functional/test_container.py
+++ b/test/functional/test_container.py
@@ -449,11 +449,19 @@ class TestContainer(unittest.TestCase):
         resp = retry(post, headers)
         resp.read()
         self.assertEqual(resp.status, 204)
+        # this POST includes metadata size that is over limit
         headers['X-Container-Meta-k'] = \
             'v' * (self.max_meta_overall_size - size)
         resp = retry(post, headers)
         resp.read()
         self.assertEqual(resp.status, 400)
+        # this last POST would be ok by itself but takes the aggregate
+        # backend metadata size over limit
+        headers = {'X-Container-Meta-k':
+                   'v' * (self.max_meta_overall_size - size)}
+        resp = retry(post, headers)
+        resp.read()
+        self.assertEqual(resp.status, 400)
 
     def test_public_container(self):
         if tf.skip: