diff --git a/swh/journal/replay.py b/swh/journal/replay.py
--- a/swh/journal/replay.py
+++ b/swh/journal/replay.py
@@ -193,6 +193,8 @@
         for visit in objects:
             if 'type' in visit['origin']:
                 storage.origin_add_one(visit['origin'])
+            if 'metadata' not in visit:
+                visit['metadata'] = None
         storage.origin_visit_upsert(objects)
     else:
         logger.warning('Received a series of %s, this should not happen',
diff --git a/swh/journal/tests/test_replay.py b/swh/journal/tests/test_replay.py
--- a/swh/journal/tests/test_replay.py
+++ b/swh/journal/tests/test_replay.py
@@ -156,6 +156,7 @@
             assert vout.pop('origin') == 'http://example.com/'
         vin.pop('origin')
         vin.setdefault('type', 'git')
+        vin.setdefault('metadata', None)
         assert vin == vout