diff --git a/packages/notebook-extension/src/index.ts b/packages/notebook-extension/src/index.ts
index 163da8642..9e205540d 100644
--- a/packages/notebook-extension/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/notebook-extension/src/index.ts
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ const scrollOutput: JupyterFrontEndPlugin<void> = {
       }
       const { outputArea } = cell;
       // respect cells with an explicit scrolled state
-      const scrolled = cell.model.metadata.get('scrolled');
+      const scrolled = cell.model.getMetadata('scrolled');
       if (scrolled !== undefined) {
         return;
       }