diff --git a/sqlmodel/_compat.py b/sqlmodel/_compat.py
index 72ec8330f..490b6a62e 100644
--- a/sqlmodel/_compat.py
+++ b/sqlmodel/_compat.py
@@ -203,7 +203,9 @@ def get_field_metadata(field: Any) -> Any:
         for meta in field.metadata:
             if isinstance(meta, PydanticMetadata):
                 return meta
-        return FakeMetadata()
+            fake = FakeMetadata()
+            fake.max_length = getattr(meta, "max_length", None)
+            return fake
 
     def post_init_field_info(field_info: FieldInfo) -> None:
         return None
diff --git a/sqlmodel/sql/sqltypes.py b/sqlmodel/sql/sqltypes.py
index 5a4bb04ef..72d95788c 100644
--- a/sqlmodel/sql/sqltypes.py
+++ b/sqlmodel/sql/sqltypes.py
@@ -14,7 +14,9 @@ class AutoString(types.TypeDecorator):  # type: ignore
 
     def load_dialect_impl(self, dialect: Dialect) -> "types.TypeEngine[Any]":
         impl = cast(types.String, self.impl)
-        if impl.length is None and dialect.name == "mysql":
+        if impl.length is None and (
+            dialect.name == "mysql" or dialect.name == "mariadb"
+        ):
             return dialect.type_descriptor(types.String(self.mysql_default_length))
         return super().load_dialect_impl(dialect)