diff --git a/src/pretix/api/serializers/organizer.py b/src/pretix/api/serializers/organizer.py
index ba51524b7d..7e83daf82f 100644
--- a/src/pretix/api/serializers/organizer.py
+++ b/src/pretix/api/serializers/organizer.py
@@ -657,11 +657,24 @@ class EventMetaPropertiesSerializer(I18nAwareModelSerializer):
         full_data.update(data)
 
         choices = full_data.get("choices")
-        if choices is not None and not isinstance(choices, dict):
-            raise ValidationError("Choices need to be a dictionary or null.")
-        default = full_data.get("default")
-        if choices and default and default not in choices.keys():
-            raise ValidationError("You cannot set a default value that is not a valid value.")
+        if "choices" in data and data["choices"] is not None:
+            if not isinstance(choices, list):
+                raise ValidationError("Choices need to be a list or null.")
+            if any([not isinstance(c, dict) for c in choices]):
+                raise ValidationError("Choices need to contain only objects.")
+            required_keys = {"key"}
+            allowed_keys = {"key", "label"}
+            if not all([required_keys <= set(c.keys()) <= allowed_keys for c in choices]):
+                raise ValidationError("Each choice must contain a key and optionally a label.")
+
+        if choices:
+            choice_keys = [c.get("key") for c in choices]
+            if len(set(choice_keys)) < len(choice_keys):
+                raise ValidationError("Each choice must have a unique key.")
+
+            default = full_data.get("default")
+            if default and default not in choice_keys:
+                raise ValidationError("You cannot set a default value that is not a valid value.")
 
         if not choices and "choices" in data:
             # normalize empty dict to None 
diff --git a/src/tests/api/test_event_meta_properties.py b/src/tests/api/test_event_meta_properties.py
index 9073323f87..87975a4471 100644
--- a/src/tests/api/test_event_meta_properties.py
+++ b/src/tests/api/test_event_meta_properties.py
@@ -82,7 +82,6 @@ def test_meta_property_create(token_client, organizer):
         }
     )
     assert resp.status_code == 400
-    choices = {"r": "Red", "g": "Green", "b": "Blue"}
     resp = token_client.post(
         '/api/v1/organizers/{}/event_meta_properties/'.format(organizer.slug),
         format='json',
@@ -90,6 +89,22 @@ def test_meta_property_create(token_client, organizer):
             "name": "Color",
             "default": "Red",
             "required": False,
+            "choices": {"key": "r", "label": "Red"},
+        }
+    )
+    assert resp.status_code == 400
+    choices = [
+        {"key": "r", "label": "Red"},
+        {"key": "g", "label": "Green"},
+        {"key": "b", "label": "Blue"},
+    ]
+    resp = token_client.post(
+        '/api/v1/organizers/{}/event_meta_properties/'.format(organizer.slug),
+        format='json',
+        data={
+            "name": "Color",
+            "default": "k",
+            "required": False,
             "choices": choices,
         }
     )
@@ -122,7 +137,7 @@ def test_meta_property_patch(token_client, organizer, event_meta_property):
         format='json',
         data={
             # existing default is not in choices
-            "choices": {'k': 'Black'},
+            "choices": [{'k': 'Black'}],
         }
     )
     assert resp.status_code == 400