diff --git a/kustomize/commands/edit/add/addmetadata.go b/kustomize/commands/edit/add/addmetadata.go
index 25b1a5aac..71f1d96e1 100644
--- a/kustomize/commands/edit/add/addmetadata.go
+++ b/kustomize/commands/edit/add/addmetadata.go
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ func (o *addMetadataOptions) writeToLabels(m *types.Kustomization, kind kindOfAd
 			}
 			continue
 		}
-		if err := o.writeToMap(lbl.Pairs, kind); err != nil {
+		if err := o.writeToMapEntry(lbl.Pairs, k, v, kind); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 		m.Labels = append(m.Labels, lbl)
diff --git a/kustomize/commands/edit/add/addmetadata_test.go b/kustomize/commands/edit/add/addmetadata_test.go
index 9a52e133e..1671bff75 100644
--- a/kustomize/commands/edit/add/addmetadata_test.go
+++ b/kustomize/commands/edit/add/addmetadata_test.go
@@ -375,6 +375,19 @@ func TestAddLabelWithoutSelector(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 		},
+		{
+			name:       "add multiple labels without selector",
+			baseLabels: []types.Label{},
+			options: addMetadataOptions{
+				labelsWithoutSelector: true,
+				metadata:              map[string]string{"test1": "a", "test2": "b"},
+			},
+			expected: []types.Label{
+				{
+					Pairs: map[string]string{"test1": "a", "test2": "b"},
+				},
+			},
+		},
 		{
 			name: "overwrite label with same settings",
 			baseLabels: []types.Label{