diff --git a/swh/loader/package/loader.py b/swh/loader/package/loader.py
--- a/swh/loader/package/loader.py
+++ b/swh/loader/package/loader.py
@@ -259,14 +259,20 @@
         tmp_revisions = {}  # type: Dict[str, List]
         snapshot = None
 
+        # Prepare origin and origin_visit
+        origin = {'url': self.url}
         try:
-            # Prepare origin and origin_visit
-            origin = {'url': self.url}
             self.storage.origin_add_one(origin)
             visit_id = self.storage.origin_visit_add(
                 origin=self.url,
                 date=self.visit_date,
                 type=self.visit_type)['visit']
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.error(
+                'Failed to create origin/origin_visit. Reason: %s', e)
+            return {'status': 'failed'}
+
+        try:
             last_snapshot = self.last_snapshot()
             logger.debug('last snapshot: %s', last_snapshot)
             known_artifacts = self.known_artifacts(last_snapshot)
diff --git a/swh/loader/package/tests/test_loader.py b/swh/loader/package/tests/test_loader.py
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/swh/loader/package/tests/test_loader.py
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+# Copyright (C) 2019  The Software Heritage developers
+# See the AUTHORS file at the top-level directory of this distribution
+# License: GNU General Public License version 3, or any later version
+# See top-level LICENSE file for more information
+
+from swh.loader.package.loader import PackageLoader
+
+
+class FakeStorage:
+    def origin_add_one(self, origin):
+        raise ValueError('We refuse to add an origin')
+
+
+class FakeStorage2:
+    def origin_add_one(self, origin):
+        return origin
+
+    def origin_visit_add(self, origin, date, type):
+        raise ValueError('We refuse to add an origin visit')
+
+
+def test_loader_origin_visit_failure(swh_config):
+    """Failure to add origin or origin visit should failed immediately
+
+    """
+    loader = PackageLoader('some-url')
+    loader.storage = FakeStorage()
+
+    actual_load_status = loader.load()
+    assert actual_load_status == {'status': 'failed'}
+
+    loader.storage = FakeStorage2()
+
+    actual_load_status2 = loader.load()
+    assert actual_load_status2 == {'status': 'failed'}