diff --git a/lib/metadata.js b/lib/metadata.js
index 2a33bb21c..037024b57 100644
--- a/lib/metadata.js
+++ b/lib/metadata.js
@@ -54,6 +54,51 @@ commands.RM_OWNERS = function (meta, args) {
     });
 };
 
+// ["ADD_PENDING_OWNERS", ["7eEqelGso3EBr5jHlei6av4r9w2B9XZiGGwA1EgZ-5I="], 1561623438989]
+commands.ADD_PENDING_OWNERS = function (meta, args) {
+    // bail out if args isn't an array
+    if (!Array.isArray(args)) {
+        throw new Error('METADATA_INVALID_PENDING_OWNERS');
+    }
+
+    // you shouldn't be able to get here if there are no owners
+    // because only an owner should be able to change the owners
+    if (meta.pending_owners && !Array.isArray(meta.pending_owners)) {
+        throw new Error("METADATA_NONSENSE_PENDING_OWNERS");
+    }
+
+    // Add pending_owners array if it doesn't exist
+    if (!meta.pending_owners) {
+        meta.pending_owners = deduplicate(args);
+        return;
+    }
+    // or fill it
+    args.forEach(function (owner) {
+        if (meta.pending_owners.indexOf(owner) >= 0) { return; }
+        meta.pending_owners.push(owner);
+    });
+};
+
+// ["RM_PENDING_OWNERS", ["CrufexqXcY-z+eKJlEbNELVy5Sb7E-EAAEFI8GnEtZ0="], 1561623439989]
+commands.RM_PENDING_OWNERS = function (meta, args) {
+    // what are you doing if you don't have owners to remove?
+    if (!Array.isArray(args)) {
+        throw new Error('METADATA_INVALID_PENDING_OWNERS');
+    }
+    // if there aren't any owners to start, this is also pointless
+    if (!Array.isArray(meta.pending_owners)) {
+        throw new Error("METADATA_NONSENSE_PENDING_OWNERS");
+    }
+
+    // remove owners one by one
+    // we assume there are no duplicates
+    args.forEach(function (owner) {
+        var index = meta.pending_owners.indexOf(owner);
+        if (index < 0) { return; }
+        meta.pending_owners.splice(index, 1);
+    });
+};
+
 // ["RESET_OWNERS", ["7eEqelGso3EBr5jHlei6av4r9w2B9XZiGGwA1EgZ-5I="], 1561623439989]
 commands.RESET_OWNERS = function (meta, args) {
     // expect a new array, even if it's empty