diff --git a/worker/draft.go b/worker/draft.go
index d78be8d961d..77d62da41e5 100644
--- a/worker/draft.go
+++ b/worker/draft.go
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ func (n *node) applyMutations(ctx context.Context, proposal *pb.Proposal) (rerr
 	for attr, storageType := range schemaMap {
 		if _, err := schema.State().TypeOf(attr); err != nil {
 			hint := pb.Metadata_DEFAULT
-			if mutHint, ok := proposal.Mutations.Metadata.PredHints[attr]; ok {
+			if mutHint, ok := proposal.GetMutations().GetMetadata().GetPredHints()[attr]; ok {
 				hint = mutHint
 			}
 			if err := createSchema(attr, storageType, hint); err != nil {