diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index b2f1395..464b41e 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ Keep it human-readable, your future self will thank you!
 - Add missing dependency for documentation building
 - Fix failing test due to previous merge
 - Bug fix when creating dataset from zarr
+- Bug fix with area selection in cutout operation
 
 ### Removed
 
diff --git a/src/anemoi/datasets/data/masked.py b/src/anemoi/datasets/data/masked.py
index 002bf92..9b799a9 100644
--- a/src/anemoi/datasets/data/masked.py
+++ b/src/anemoi/datasets/data/masked.py
@@ -112,5 +112,5 @@ def __init__(self, forward, area):
     def tree(self):
         return Node(self, [self.forward.tree()], area=self.area)
 
-    def metadata_specific(self, **kwargs):
-        return super().metadata_specific(area=self.area, **kwargs)
+    def subclass_metadata_specific(self):
+        return dict(area=self.area)