diff --git a/zarr/storage.py b/zarr/storage.py
index aa27e98e6f..62f68fe3bc 100644
--- a/zarr/storage.py
+++ b/zarr/storage.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 path) and a `getsize` method (return the size in bytes of a given value).
 
 """
+
 import atexit
 import errno
 import glob
@@ -1404,7 +1405,12 @@ 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])