diff --git a/swh/journal/replay.py b/swh/journal/replay.py
--- a/swh/journal/replay.py
+++ b/swh/journal/replay.py
@@ -47,6 +47,8 @@
                 storage.origin_add_one(visit['origin'])
             if 'type' not in visit:
                 visit['type'] = visit['origin'].get('type', None)
+            if 'metadata' not in visit:
+                visit['metadata'] = None
 
         storage.origin_visit_upsert(objects)
     else:
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
@@ -146,6 +146,7 @@
             assert vout.pop('origin') == 'http://example.com'
         vin.pop('origin')
         vin.setdefault('type', 'git')
+        vin.setdefault('metadata', None)
         assert vin == vout