diff --git a/datasette/app.py b/datasette/app.py
index 2e20d402..b0b8f041 100644
--- a/datasette/app.py
+++ b/datasette/app.py
@@ -1202,7 +1202,7 @@ class Datasette:
     def _actor(self, request):
         return {"actor": request.actor}
 
-    def table_metadata(self, database, table):
+    async def table_config(self, database, table):
         """Fetch table-specific metadata."""
         return (
             (self.metadata("databases") or {})
diff --git a/datasette/database.py b/datasette/database.py
index f2c980d7..1c1b3e1b 100644
--- a/datasette/database.py
+++ b/datasette/database.py
@@ -418,7 +418,7 @@ class Database:
         return await self.execute_fn(lambda conn: detect_fts(conn, table))
 
     async def label_column_for_table(self, table):
-        explicit_label_column = self.ds.table_metadata(self.name, table).get(
+        explicit_label_column = (await self.ds.table_config(self.name, table)).get(
             "label_column"
         )
         if explicit_label_column:
diff --git a/datasette/filters.py b/datasette/filters.py
index 73eea857..4d9580d8 100644
--- a/datasette/filters.py
+++ b/datasette/filters.py
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ def search_filters(request, database, table, datasette):
         extra_context = {}
 
         # Figure out which fts_table to use
-        table_metadata = datasette.table_metadata(database, table)
+        table_metadata = await datasette.table_config(database, table)
         db = datasette.get_database(database)
         fts_table = request.args.get("_fts_table")
         fts_table = fts_table or table_metadata.get("fts_table")
diff --git a/datasette/views/row.py b/datasette/views/row.py
index 7b646641..7b43b893 100644
--- a/datasette/views/row.py
+++ b/datasette/views/row.py
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ class RowView(DataView):
             "columns": columns,
             "primary_keys": resolved.pks,
             "primary_key_values": pk_values,
-            "units": self.ds.table_metadata(database, table).get("units", {}),
+            "units": (await self.ds.table_config(database, table)).get("units", {}),
         }
 
         if "foreign_key_tables" in (request.args.get("_extras") or "").split(","):
diff --git a/datasette/views/table.py b/datasette/views/table.py
index 22722847..2b5b7c24 100644
--- a/datasette/views/table.py
+++ b/datasette/views/table.py
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ async def display_columns_and_rows(
     """Returns columns, rows for specified table - including fancy foreign key treatment"""
     sortable_columns = sortable_columns or set()
     db = datasette.databases[database_name]
-    table_metadata = datasette.table_metadata(database_name, table_name)
+    table_metadata = await datasette.table_config(database_name, table_name)
     column_descriptions = table_metadata.get("columns") or {}
     column_details = {
         col.name: col for col in await db.table_column_details(table_name)
@@ -663,7 +663,7 @@ async def _columns_to_select(table_columns, pks, request):
 
 async def _sortable_columns_for_table(datasette, database_name, table_name, use_rowid):
     db = datasette.databases[database_name]
-    table_metadata = datasette.table_metadata(database_name, table_name)
+    table_metadata = await datasette.table_config(database_name, table_name)
     if "sortable_columns" in table_metadata:
         sortable_columns = set(table_metadata["sortable_columns"])
     else:
@@ -962,7 +962,7 @@ async def table_view_data(
         nocount = True
         nofacet = True
 
-    table_metadata = datasette.table_metadata(database_name, table_name)
+    table_metadata = await datasette.table_config(database_name, table_name)
     units = table_metadata.get("units", {})
 
     # Arguments that start with _ and don't contain a __ are