diff --git a/gitmirror/crates/gitmirror-xrpc/src/metrics.rs b/gitmirror/crates/gitmirror-xrpc/src/metrics.rs
index 716655747..f27fa7437 100644
--- a/gitmirror/crates/gitmirror-xrpc/src/metrics.rs
+++ b/gitmirror/crates/gitmirror-xrpc/src/metrics.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use axum::{
     Router,
     extract::MatchedPath,
-    http::{Request, StatusCode},
+    http::{Method, Request, StatusCode},
     middleware::Next,
     response::{IntoResponse, Response},
     routing::get,
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ pub async fn metrics_handler() -> impl IntoResponse {
 }
 
 struct InFlightGuard {
-    method: String,
+    method: &'static str,
     path: String,
 }
 
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ impl Drop for InFlightGuard {
     fn drop(&mut self) {
         gauge!(
             "gitmirror_xrpc_in_flight",
-            "method" => self.method.clone(),
+            "method" => self.method,
             "path" => self.path.clone()
         )
         .decrement(1);
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ impl Drop for InFlightGuard {
 
 pub async fn metrics_middleware(request: Request<axum::body::Body>, next: Next) -> Response {
     let start = Instant::now();
-    let method = request.method().to_string();
+    let method = normalize_method(request.method());
     let path = normalize_path(&request);
 
     let span = tracing::info_span!(
@@ -157,12 +157,12 @@ pub async fn metrics_middleware(request: Request<axum::body::Body>, next: Next)
 
     gauge!(
         "gitmirror_xrpc_in_flight",
-        "method" => method.clone(),
+        "method" => method,
         "path" => path.clone()
     )
     .increment(1);
     let _in_flight = InFlightGuard {
-        method: method.clone(),
+        method,
         path: path.clone(),
     };
 
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ pub async fn metrics_middleware(request: Request<axum::body::Body>, next: Next)
 
     counter!(
         "gitmirror_xrpc_requests_total",
-        "method" => method.clone(),
+        "method" => method,
         "path" => path.clone(),
         "status" => status.clone(),
         "error" => error
@@ -199,6 +199,15 @@ pub async fn metrics_middleware(request: Request<axum::body::Body>, next: Next)
     response
 }
 
+fn normalize_method(method: &Method) -> &'static str {
+    match *method {
+        Method::GET => "GET",
+        Method::HEAD => "HEAD",
+        Method::POST => "POST",
+        _ => "other",
+    }
+}
+
 fn normalize_path(request: &Request<axum::body::Body>) -> String {
     request
         .extensions()