diff --git a/swh/lister/cran/lister.py b/swh/lister/cran/lister.py
--- a/swh/lister/cran/lister.py
+++ b/swh/lister/cran/lister.py
@@ -26,8 +26,7 @@
         """
         return create_task_dict(
             'load-%s' % origin_type, 'recurring',
-            kwargs.get('name'), origin_url, kwargs.get('version'),
-            project_metadata=kwargs.get('description'))
+            kwargs.get('name'), origin_url, kwargs.get('version'))
 
     def r_script_request(self):
         """Runs R script which uses inbuilt API to return a json
diff --git a/swh/lister/gitlab/lister.py b/swh/lister/gitlab/lister.py
--- a/swh/lister/gitlab/lister.py
+++ b/swh/lister/gitlab/lister.py
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@
             'html_url': repo['web_url'],
             'origin_url': repo['http_url_to_repo'],
             'origin_type': 'git',
-            'description': repo['description'],
         }
 
     def transport_quota_check(self, response):