diff --git a/swh/deposit/api/deposit_status.py b/swh/deposit/api/deposit_status.py
--- a/swh/deposit/api/deposit_status.py
+++ b/swh/deposit/api/deposit_status.py
@@ -42,22 +42,12 @@
 
         context = {
             'deposit_id': deposit.id,
-            'status': deposit.status,
             'status_detail': status_detail,
-            'swh_id': None,
-            'swh_id_context': None,
-            'swh_anchor_id': None,
-            'swh_anchor_id_context': None,
         }
-
-        if deposit.swh_id:
-            context['swh_id'] = deposit.swh_id
-        if deposit.swh_id_context:
-            context['swh_id_context'] = deposit.swh_id_context
-        if deposit.swh_anchor_id:
-            context['swh_anchor_id'] = deposit.swh_anchor_id
-        if deposit.swh_anchor_id_context:
-            context['swh_anchor_id_context'] = deposit.swh_anchor_id_context
+        keys = ('status', 'swh_id', 'swh_id_context', 'swh_anchor_id',
+                'swh_anchor_id_context', 'external_id')
+        for k in keys:
+            context[k] = getattr(deposit, k, None)
 
         return render(req, 'deposit/status.xml',
                       context=context,
diff --git a/swh/deposit/cli/deposit.py b/swh/deposit/cli/deposit.py
--- a/swh/deposit/cli/deposit.py
+++ b/swh/deposit/cli/deposit.py
@@ -23,11 +23,11 @@
     pass
 
 
-def generate_slug(prefix='swh-sample'):
+def generate_slug():
     """Generate a slug (sample purposes).
 
     """
-    return '%s-%s' % (prefix, uuid.uuid4())
+    return str(uuid.uuid4())
 
 
 def client_command_parse_input(
diff --git a/swh/deposit/client/__init__.py b/swh/deposit/client/__init__.py
--- a/swh/deposit/client/__init__.py
+++ b/swh/deposit/client/__init__.py
@@ -350,7 +350,9 @@
             'deposit_swh_id',
             'deposit_swh_id_context',
             'deposit_swh_anchor_id',
-            'deposit_swh_anchor_id_context'])
+            'deposit_swh_anchor_id_context',
+            'deposit_external_id',
+        ])
 
 
 class BaseCreateDepositClient(BaseDepositClient):
diff --git a/swh/deposit/templates/deposit/status.xml b/swh/deposit/templates/deposit/status.xml
--- a/swh/deposit/templates/deposit/status.xml
+++ b/swh/deposit/templates/deposit/status.xml
@@ -8,4 +8,5 @@
     {% if swh_id_context is not None %}<deposit_swh_id_context>{{ swh_id_context }}</deposit_swh_id_context>{% endif %}
     {% if swh_anchor_id is not None %}<deposit_swh_anchor_id>{{ swh_anchor_id }}</deposit_swh_anchor_id>{% endif %}
     {% if swh_anchor_id_context is not None %}<deposit_swh_anchor_id_context>{{ swh_anchor_id_context }}</deposit_swh_anchor_id_context>{% endif %}
+    {% if external_id is not None %}<deposit_external_id>{{ external_id }}</deposit_external_id>{% endif %}
 </entry>
diff --git a/swh/deposit/tests/api/test_deposit_status.py b/swh/deposit/tests/api/test_deposit_status.py
--- a/swh/deposit/tests/api/test_deposit_status.py
+++ b/swh/deposit/tests/api/test_deposit_status.py
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@
         self.assertEqual(r['deposit_status'], DEPOSIT_STATUS_DEPOSITED)
         self.assertEqual(r['deposit_status_detail'],
                          DEPOSIT_STATUS_DETAIL[DEPOSIT_STATUS_DEPOSITED])
+        self.assertEqual(r['deposit_external_id'], external_id)
 
     def test_status_with_swh_information(self):
         _status = DEPOSIT_STATUS_LOAD_SUCCESS