diff --git a/zarr/storage.py b/zarr/storage.py
index c91f2f1cf0..de5bad33bf 100644
--- a/zarr/storage.py
+++ b/zarr/storage.py
@@ -1378,7 +1378,12 @@ def _normalize_key(self, key):
         if key:
             *bits, end = key.split('/')
 
-            if end not in (self._array_meta_key, self._group_meta_key, self._attrs_key):
+            if end not in (
+                self._array_meta_key,
+                self._group_meta_key,
+                self._attrs_key,
+                ".zmetadata",  # see: #1121
+            ):
                 end = end.replace('.', self.key_separator)
                 key = '/'.join(bits + [end])