diff --git a/packages/synapse-core/src/utils/metadata.ts b/packages/synapse-core/src/utils/metadata.ts
index 86374dc0..fc1a77b4 100644
--- a/packages/synapse-core/src/utils/metadata.ts
+++ b/packages/synapse-core/src/utils/metadata.ts
@@ -35,7 +35,6 @@ export interface MetadataDataSetInternal {
 }
 
 export interface MetadataPieceInternal {
-  ipni?: boolean
   ipfsRootCID?: string
 }
 /**
@@ -89,7 +88,6 @@ export function pieceMetadataObjectToEntry(
 ): MetadataEntry[] {
   const obj = {
     ...(metadataObject ?? {}),
-    ...(metadataInternal?.ipni ? { withIPNI: '' } : {}),
     ...(metadataInternal?.ipfsRootCID ? { ipfsRootCID: metadataInternal.ipfsRootCID } : {}),
   }
   const entries = Object.entries(obj)
diff --git a/packages/synapse-core/test/metadata.test.ts b/packages/synapse-core/test/metadata.test.ts
index a6853379..214a61e3 100644
--- a/packages/synapse-core/test/metadata.test.ts
+++ b/packages/synapse-core/test/metadata.test.ts
@@ -172,15 +172,6 @@ describe('Metadata Utils', () => {
       assert.deepEqual(result, [])
     })
 
-    it('should add withIPNI when ipni internal flag is true', () => {
-      const result = pieceMetadataObjectToEntry({ key: 'value' }, { ipni: true })
-
-      assert.deepEqual(result, [
-        { key: 'key', value: 'value' },
-        { key: 'withIPNI', value: '' },
-      ])
-    })
-
     it('should add ipfsRootCID when provided', () => {
       const cid = 'bafybeigdyrzt5sfp7udm7hu76uh7y26nf3efuylqabf3oclgtqy55fbzdi'
       const result = pieceMetadataObjectToEntry({ key: 'value' }, { ipfsRootCID: cid })
@@ -191,16 +182,6 @@ describe('Metadata Utils', () => {
       ])
     })
 
-    it('should add both ipni and ipfsRootCID when both provided', () => {
-      const cid = 'bafybeigdyrzt5sfp7udm7hu76uh7y26nf3efuylqabf3oclgtqy55fbzdi'
-      const result = pieceMetadataObjectToEntry({}, { ipni: true, ipfsRootCID: cid })
-
-      assert.deepEqual(result, [
-        { key: 'ipfsRootCID', value: cid },
-        { key: 'withIPNI', value: '' },
-      ])
-    })
-
     it('should throw when exceeding max keys per piece', () => {
       const tooManyKeys: Record<string, string> = {}
       for (let i = 0; i < METADATA_LIMITS.MAX_KEYS_PER_PIECE + 1; i++) {