diff --git a/changelog/187.bugfix.rst b/changelog/187.bugfix.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2be113cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/187.bugfix.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+Fix metadata key mismatch between ``SpectrogramFactory`` and ``RFSSpectrogram``.
+The factory stored CDF global attributes under ``"cdf_globals"`` but ``RFSSpectrogram.level``
+and ``RFSSpectrogram.version`` expected ``"cdf_meta"``, causing a ``KeyError`` when accessing
+these properties on spectrograms created from real CDF files.
diff --git a/radiospectra/spectrogram/sources/psp_rfs.py b/radiospectra/spectrogram/sources/psp_rfs.py
index 8e0fb848..a50c07e7 100644
--- a/radiospectra/spectrogram/sources/psp_rfs.py
+++ b/radiospectra/spectrogram/sources/psp_rfs.py
@@ -26,11 +26,17 @@ def __init__(self, data, meta, **kwargs):
 
     @property
     def level(self):
-        return self.meta["cdf_meta"]["Data_type"].split(">")[0]
+        data_type = self.meta["cdf_meta"]["Data_type"]
+        if isinstance(data_type, list) or hasattr(data_type, "tolist"):
+            data_type = data_type[0]
+        return data_type.split(">")[0]
 
     @property
     def version(self):
-        return int(self.meta["cdf_meta"]["Data_version"])
+        data_version = self.meta["cdf_meta"]["Data_version"]
+        if isinstance(data_version, list) or hasattr(data_version, "tolist"):
+            data_version = data_version[0]
+        return int(data_version)
 
     @classmethod
     def is_datasource_for(cls, data, meta, **kwargs):
diff --git a/radiospectra/spectrogram/sources/tests/test_psp_rfs.py b/radiospectra/spectrogram/sources/tests/test_psp_rfs.py
index 15e9f1f3..1fdb8aaa 100644
--- a/radiospectra/spectrogram/sources/tests/test_psp_rfs.py
+++ b/radiospectra/spectrogram/sources/tests/test_psp_rfs.py
@@ -227,3 +227,25 @@ def test_psp_rfs_hfr(parse_path_moc):
     assert spec.wavelength.max == 19171.876 * u.kHz
     assert spec.level == "L2"
     assert spec.version == 1
+
+
+import pytest
+
+from sunpy.net import Fido
+
+import radiospectra.net  # NOQA
+
+
+@pytest.mark.remote_data
+def test_psp_rfs_real_data():
+    """
+    Test that reading a real PSP RFS file successfully parses the metadata dictionary
+    and allows access to properties like 'level' without throwing a KeyError.
+
+    This ensures that the SpectrogramFactory outputs 'cdf_meta' rather than 'cdf_globals'.
+    """
+    query = Fido.search(a.Time("2020/01/01", "2020/01/31"), a.Instrument("rfs"))
+    files = Fido.fetch(query[0, 0])
+    spec = Spectrogram(files[0])
+    assert spec.level == "L2"
+    assert spec.version is not None
diff --git a/radiospectra/spectrogram/spectrogram_factory.py b/radiospectra/spectrogram/spectrogram_factory.py
index 70d3fad6..c7dd27d2 100644
--- a/radiospectra/spectrogram/spectrogram_factory.py
+++ b/radiospectra/spectrogram/spectrogram_factory.py
@@ -430,7 +430,7 @@ def _read_cdf(file):
             freqs = freqs[0, :] << u.Hz
             data = data.T << u.Unit("Volt**2/Hz")
             meta = {
-                "cdf_globals": cdf_globals,
+                "cdf_meta": cdf_globals,
                 "detector": detector,
                 "instrument": "FIELDS/RFS",
                 "observatory": "PSP",
@@ -458,7 +458,7 @@ def _read_cdf(file):
                 data = np.squeeze(data).T << sfu
                 detector = cdf_globals.get("Instrument", [""])[0].split(">")[0]
                 meta = {
-                    "cdf_globals": cdf_globals,
+                    "cdf_meta": cdf_globals,
                     "detector": detector,
                     "instrument": "RPW",
                     "observatory": "SOLO",
@@ -561,7 +561,7 @@ def _read_cdf(file):
                 res = []
                 if np.any(agc1):
                     meta1 = {
-                        "cdf_globals": cdf_globals,
+                        "cdf_meta": cdf_globals,
                         "detector": "RPW-AGC1",
                         "instrument": "RPW",
                         "observatory": "SOLO",
@@ -574,7 +574,7 @@ def _read_cdf(file):
                     res.append((specs[0].T, meta1))
                 if np.any(agc2):
                     meta2 = {
-                        "cdf_globals": cdf_globals,
+                        "cdf_meta": cdf_globals,
                         "detector": "RPW-AGC2",
                         "instrument": "RPW",
                         "observatory": "SOLO",