diff --git a/sos b/sos
index fb4d461..26c630f 100755
--- a/sos
+++ b/sos
@@ -84,16 +84,16 @@ function upload() {
 
     server=$1
     file=$2
-    first_label=$3
-    LABELTAGS=("$first_label")
-    [[ "$first_label" =~ : ]] || die "Label $first_label does not contain a tag!"
-
-    shift 3
+    shift 2
     
-    # Arrays to store custom metadata
+    # Arrays to store labels and custom metadata
+    LABELTAGS=()
     declare -A CUSTOM_METADATA
     
     # Parse remaining arguments for labels and metadata
+    # Need at least one label:tag
+    local found_first_label=false
+    
     while [ "$#" -gt 0 ]; do
         if [ "$1" == "--metadata" ]; then
             shift
@@ -114,9 +114,18 @@ function upload() {
             label="$1"
             [[ "$label" =~ : ]] || die "Label $label does not contain a tag!"
             LABELTAGS+=("$label")
+            found_first_label=true
             shift
         fi
     done
+    
+    # Ensure we have at least one label
+    if [ "$found_first_label" != true ]; then
+        die "At least one label:tag is required"
+    fi
+    
+    # Store the first label for later use
+    first_label="${LABELTAGS[0]}"
 
     # check if file contains :
     [[ ! "$file" =~ : ]] || die "File contains : - this is not allowed!"
diff --git a/test.sh b/test.sh
index ca5f2ee..c11d447 100755
--- a/test.sh
+++ b/test.sh
@@ -489,6 +489,228 @@ test_metadata_invalid_format() {
     fi
 }
 
+test_metadata_no_labels() {
+    log_info "Testing metadata without any labels (should fail)..."
+    
+    echo "metadata no labels" > "${TEST_DIR}/test_files/meta_no_labels.txt"
+    
+    # Test with only metadata, no labels - should fail
+    export SOS_WRITE_TOKEN="${TEST_TOKEN}"
+    export SOS_TEST_MODE=1
+    local host="${SOS_TEST_HOST:-localhost:${TEST_PORT}}"
+    
+    set +e
+    "${SCRIPT_DIR}/sos" upload "$host" "${TEST_DIR}/test_files/meta_no_labels.txt" \
+        --metadata "field1=value1" \
+        --metadata "field2=value2" >"${TEST_DIR}/no_labels_output.txt" 2>&1
+    local exit_code=$?
+    set -e
+    
+    local output=$(cat "${TEST_DIR}/no_labels_output.txt")
+    
+    if [[ $exit_code -ne 0 ]] && echo "$output" | grep -q "At least one label:tag is required"; then
+        log_info "Metadata without labels correctly rejected (exit code: $exit_code)"
+        return 0
+    else
+        log_error "Metadata without labels not rejected properly"
+        echo "Exit code: $exit_code"
+        echo "$output" | head -5
+        return 1
+    fi
+}
+
+test_metadata_ordering_comprehensive() {
+    log_info "Testing comprehensive metadata and label ordering combinations..."
+    
+    local all_passed=true
+    local host="${SOS_TEST_HOST:-localhost:${TEST_PORT}}"
+    
+    # Test 1: Metadata before all labels
+    echo "order test 1" > "${TEST_DIR}/test_files/order1.txt"
+    local output=$(run_sos_upload "${TEST_DIR}/test_files/order1.txt" \
+        --metadata "position=before" \
+        --metadata "test=1" \
+        "order:test1a" \
+        "order:test1b" 2>&1)
+    
+    if echo "$output" | grep -q "Download URL:"; then
+        local hash=$(curl -s "http://${host}/hash/order:test1a" | jq -r '.hash')
+        local metadata=$(curl -s "http://${host}/meta/${hash}")
+        local position=$(echo "$metadata" | jq -r '.metadata.position')
+        local test=$(echo "$metadata" | jq -r '.metadata.test')
+        local labels=$(echo "$metadata" | jq -r '.metadata.labeltags | length')
+        
+        if [[ "$position" == "before" && "$test" == "1" && "$labels" == "2" ]]; then
+            log_info "  ✓ Metadata before all labels: PASSED"
+        else
+            log_error "  ✗ Metadata before all labels: FAILED"
+            echo "    Got: position=$position, test=$test, labels=$labels"
+            all_passed=false
+        fi
+    else
+        log_error "  ✗ Metadata before all labels: Upload failed"
+        all_passed=false
+    fi
+    
+    # Test 2: Metadata after all labels
+    echo "order test 2" > "${TEST_DIR}/test_files/order2.txt"
+    output=$(run_sos_upload "${TEST_DIR}/test_files/order2.txt" \
+        "order:test2a" \
+        "order:test2b" \
+        --metadata "position=after" \
+        --metadata "test=2" 2>&1)
+    
+    if echo "$output" | grep -q "Download URL:"; then
+        hash=$(curl -s "http://${host}/hash/order:test2a" | jq -r '.hash')
+        metadata=$(curl -s "http://${host}/meta/${hash}")
+        position=$(echo "$metadata" | jq -r '.metadata.position')
+        test=$(echo "$metadata" | jq -r '.metadata.test')
+        labels=$(echo "$metadata" | jq -r '.metadata.labeltags | length')
+        
+        if [[ "$position" == "after" && "$test" == "2" && "$labels" == "2" ]]; then
+            log_info "  ✓ Metadata after all labels: PASSED"
+        else
+            log_error "  ✗ Metadata after all labels: FAILED"
+            echo "    Got: position=$position, test=$test, labels=$labels"
+            all_passed=false
+        fi
+    else
+        log_error "  ✗ Metadata after all labels: Upload failed"
+        all_passed=false
+    fi
+    
+    # Test 3: Alternating pattern - label, metadata, label, metadata
+    echo "order test 3" > "${TEST_DIR}/test_files/order3.txt"
+    output=$(run_sos_upload "${TEST_DIR}/test_files/order3.txt" \
+        "order:test3a" \
+        --metadata "first=1" \
+        "order:test3b" \
+        --metadata "second=2" 2>&1)
+    
+    if echo "$output" | grep -q "Download URL:"; then
+        hash=$(curl -s "http://${host}/hash/order:test3a" | jq -r '.hash')
+        metadata=$(curl -s "http://${host}/meta/${hash}")
+        first=$(echo "$metadata" | jq -r '.metadata.first')
+        second=$(echo "$metadata" | jq -r '.metadata.second')
+        labels=$(echo "$metadata" | jq -r '.metadata.labeltags | length')
+        
+        if [[ "$first" == "1" && "$second" == "2" && "$labels" == "2" ]]; then
+            log_info "  ✓ Alternating label-metadata pattern: PASSED"
+        else
+            log_error "  ✗ Alternating label-metadata pattern: FAILED"
+            echo "    Got: first=$first, second=$second, labels=$labels"
+            all_passed=false
+        fi
+    else
+        log_error "  ✗ Alternating label-metadata pattern: Upload failed"
+        all_passed=false
+    fi
+    
+    # Test 4: Alternating pattern - metadata, label, metadata, label
+    echo "order test 4" > "${TEST_DIR}/test_files/order4.txt"
+    output=$(run_sos_upload "${TEST_DIR}/test_files/order4.txt" \
+        --metadata "alpha=a" \
+        "order:test4a" \
+        --metadata "beta=b" \
+        "order:test4b" 2>&1)
+    
+    if echo "$output" | grep -q "Download URL:"; then
+        hash=$(curl -s "http://${host}/hash/order:test4a" | jq -r '.hash')
+        metadata=$(curl -s "http://${host}/meta/${hash}")
+        alpha=$(echo "$metadata" | jq -r '.metadata.alpha')
+        beta=$(echo "$metadata" | jq -r '.metadata.beta')
+        labels=$(echo "$metadata" | jq -r '.metadata.labeltags | length')
+        
+        if [[ "$alpha" == "a" && "$beta" == "b" && "$labels" == "2" ]]; then
+            log_info "  ✓ Alternating metadata-label pattern: PASSED"
+        else
+            log_error "  ✗ Alternating metadata-label pattern: FAILED"
+            echo "    Got: alpha=$alpha, beta=$beta, labels=$labels"
+            all_passed=false
+        fi
+    else
+        log_error "  ✗ Alternating metadata-label pattern: Upload failed"
+        all_passed=false
+    fi
+    
+    # Test 5: Complex mixed pattern
+    echo "order test 5" > "${TEST_DIR}/test_files/order5.txt"
+    output=$(run_sos_upload "${TEST_DIR}/test_files/order5.txt" \
+        --metadata "start=yes" \
+        "order:test5a" \
+        "order:test5b" \
+        --metadata "middle=true" \
+        "order:test5c" \
+        --metadata "end=done" \
+        --metadata "extra=value" 2>&1)
+    
+    if echo "$output" | grep -q "Download URL:"; then
+        hash=$(curl -s "http://${host}/hash/order:test5a" | jq -r '.hash')
+        metadata=$(curl -s "http://${host}/meta/${hash}")
+        start=$(echo "$metadata" | jq -r '.metadata.start')
+        middle=$(echo "$metadata" | jq -r '.metadata.middle')
+        end=$(echo "$metadata" | jq -r '.metadata.end')
+        extra=$(echo "$metadata" | jq -r '.metadata.extra')
+        labels=$(echo "$metadata" | jq -r '.metadata.labeltags | length')
+        
+        if [[ "$start" == "yes" && "$middle" == "true" && "$end" == "done" && \
+              "$extra" == "value" && "$labels" == "3" ]]; then
+            log_info "  ✓ Complex mixed pattern: PASSED"
+        else
+            log_error "  ✗ Complex mixed pattern: FAILED"
+            echo "    Got: start=$start, middle=$middle, end=$end, extra=$extra, labels=$labels"
+            all_passed=false
+        fi
+    else
+        log_error "  ✗ Complex mixed pattern: Upload failed"
+        all_passed=false
+    fi
+    
+    # Test 6: Multiple consecutive metadata flags at different positions
+    echo "order test 6" > "${TEST_DIR}/test_files/order6.txt"
+    output=$(run_sos_upload "${TEST_DIR}/test_files/order6.txt" \
+        --metadata "group1a=1" \
+        --metadata "group1b=2" \
+        "order:test6a" \
+        --metadata "group2a=3" \
+        --metadata "group2b=4" \
+        "order:test6b" \
+        --metadata "group3a=5" \
+        --metadata "group3b=6" 2>&1)
+    
+    if echo "$output" | grep -q "Download URL:"; then
+        hash=$(curl -s "http://${host}/hash/order:test6a" | jq -r '.hash')
+        metadata=$(curl -s "http://${host}/meta/${hash}")
+        g1a=$(echo "$metadata" | jq -r '.metadata.group1a')
+        g1b=$(echo "$metadata" | jq -r '.metadata.group1b')
+        g2a=$(echo "$metadata" | jq -r '.metadata.group2a')
+        g2b=$(echo "$metadata" | jq -r '.metadata.group2b')
+        g3a=$(echo "$metadata" | jq -r '.metadata.group3a')
+        g3b=$(echo "$metadata" | jq -r '.metadata.group3b')
+        labels=$(echo "$metadata" | jq -r '.metadata.labeltags | length')
+        
+        if [[ "$g1a" == "1" && "$g1b" == "2" && "$g2a" == "3" && \
+              "$g2b" == "4" && "$g3a" == "5" && "$g3b" == "6" && "$labels" == "2" ]]; then
+            log_info "  ✓ Multiple consecutive metadata groups: PASSED"
+        else
+            log_error "  ✗ Multiple consecutive metadata groups: FAILED"
+            echo "    Got: g1a=$g1a, g1b=$g1b, g2a=$g2a, g2b=$g2b, g3a=$g3a, g3b=$g3b, labels=$labels"
+            all_passed=false
+        fi
+    else
+        log_error "  ✗ Multiple consecutive metadata groups: Upload failed"
+        all_passed=false
+    fi
+    
+    if [[ "$all_passed" == true ]]; then
+        log_info "All ordering tests passed!"
+        return 0
+    else
+        log_error "Some ordering tests failed"
+        return 1
+    fi
+}
+
 # Run all tests
 run_tests() {
     local tests=(
@@ -507,6 +729,8 @@ run_tests() {
         "test_metadata_mixed_labels"
         "test_metadata_empty_value"
         "test_metadata_invalid_format"
+        "test_metadata_no_labels"
+        "test_metadata_ordering_comprehensive"
     )
     
     local total=${#tests[@]}