diff --git a/vowpalwabbit/core/include/vw/core/learner.h b/vowpalwabbit/core/include/vw/core/learner.h
index 02a97cef1a9..2bffe33d81f 100644
--- a/vowpalwabbit/core/include/vw/core/learner.h
+++ b/vowpalwabbit/core/include/vw/core/learner.h
@@ -482,10 +482,18 @@ class common_learner_builder
     this->learner_ptr->_cleanup_example_f = [fn_ptr, data](polymorphic_ex ex) { fn_ptr(*data, ex); };
   )
 
+  // Set the function pointer for persisting metrics for the learner.
+  // This function enforces that force reductions can only add metrics in their own namespace.
+  // The metrics output dictionary is a dictionary of dictionaries, where each sub-dictionary
+  // contains the metrics for a single learner. The key for each sub-dictionary is the learner's name.
   LEARNER_BUILDER_DEFINE(set_persist_metrics(void (*fn_ptr)(DataT&, metric_sink&)),
     assert(fn_ptr != nullptr);
     DataT* data = this->learner_data.get();
-    this->learner_ptr->_persist_metrics_f = [fn_ptr, data](metric_sink& metrics) { fn_ptr(*data, metrics); };
+    std::string learner_name = this->name;
+    this->learner_ptr->_persist_metrics_f = [fn_ptr, data, learner_name](metric_sink& metrics) {
+        metrics[learner_name] = {};
+        fn_ptr(*data, metrics[learner_name]);
+    };
   )
 
   LEARNER_BUILDER_DEFINE(set_pre_save_load(void (*fn_ptr)(VW::workspace& all, DataT&)),