diff --git a/swh/loader/core/loader.py b/swh/loader/core/loader.py
--- a/swh/loader/core/loader.py
+++ b/swh/loader/core/loader.py
@@ -105,6 +105,8 @@
 
         self.origin_metadata: Dict[str, Any] = {}
 
+        self.loaded_snapshot: Optional[Sha1Git] = None
+
         # Make sure the config is sane
         save_data = self.config.get("save_data")
         if save_data:
@@ -256,10 +258,6 @@
         """
         return "full"
 
-    def get_snapshot_id(self) -> Optional[Sha1Git]:
-        """Get the snapshot id that needs to be loaded"""
-        raise NotImplementedError
-
     def pre_cleanup(self) -> None:
         """As a first step, will try and check for dangling data to cleanup.
         This should do its best to avoid raising issues.
@@ -310,7 +308,7 @@
                 self.origin.url,
                 self.visit.visit,
                 self.visit_status(),
-                snapshot=self.get_snapshot_id(),
+                snapshot=self.loaded_snapshot,
             )
             self.post_load()
         except Exception:
@@ -322,7 +320,7 @@
                 self.origin.url,
                 self.visit.visit,
                 "partial",
-                snapshot=self.get_snapshot_id(),
+                snapshot=self.loaded_snapshot,
             )
             self.post_load(success=False)
             return {"status": "failed"}
@@ -382,14 +380,10 @@
         """Get the releases that need to be loaded"""
         raise NotImplementedError
 
-    def get_snapshot(self) -> Snapshot:
+    def get_snapshot(self) -> Optional[Snapshot]:
         """Get the snapshot that needs to be loaded"""
         raise NotImplementedError
 
-    def get_snapshot_id(self) -> Optional[Sha1Git]:
-        snapshot = self.get_snapshot()
-        return snapshot.id if snapshot else None
-
     def eventful(self) -> bool:
         """Whether the load was eventful"""
         raise NotImplementedError
@@ -417,7 +411,9 @@
             self.storage.revision_add(self.get_revisions())
         if self.has_releases():
             self.storage.release_add(self.get_releases())
-        self.flush()  # to ensure the snapshot targets existing objects
         snapshot = self.get_snapshot()
+        if snapshot is None:
+            raise ValueError("Unexpected null snapshot!")
         self.storage.snapshot_add([snapshot])
         self.flush()
+        self.loaded_snapshot = snapshot.id
diff --git a/swh/loader/core/tests/test_loader.py b/swh/loader/core/tests/test_loader.py
--- a/swh/loader/core/tests/test_loader.py
+++ b/swh/loader/core/tests/test_loader.py
@@ -103,6 +103,20 @@
         pass
 
 
+class DummyDVCSLoaderExc(DummyDVCSLoader):
+    """A loader which raises an exception when loading some contents"""
+
+    def get_contents(self):
+        raise RuntimeError("Failed to get contents!")
+
+
+class DummyDVCSLoaderNoSnapshot(DummyDVCSLoader):
+    """A loader which fails to provide a snapshot"""
+
+    def get_snapshot(self):
+        return None
+
+
 def test_base_loader():
     loader = DummyBaseLoader()
     result = loader.load()
@@ -146,3 +160,52 @@
 
     save_path = loader.get_save_data_path()
     assert save_path == expected_save_path
+
+
+def test_dvcs_loader_exc_partial_visit(caplog):
+    logger_name = "dvcsloaderexc"
+    caplog.set_level(logging.ERROR, logger=logger_name)
+
+    loader = DummyDVCSLoaderExc(logging_class=logger_name)
+    result = loader.load()
+
+    assert result == {"status": "failed"}
+
+    for record in caplog.records:
+        if record.levelname != "ERROR":
+            continue
+        assert "Loading failure" in record.message
+        assert record.exc_info
+        exc = record.exc_info[1]
+        assert isinstance(exc, RuntimeError)
+        assert "Failed to get contents!" in exc.args[0]
+
+    # Check that the get_snapshot operation would have succeeded
+    assert loader.get_snapshot() is not None
+
+    # But that the snapshot didn't get loaded
+    assert loader.loaded_snapshot is None
+
+    # And confirm that the visit doesn't reference a snapshot
+    visit = loader.storage.origin_visit_get_latest(ORIGIN.url)
+    assert visit["status"] == "partial"
+    assert visit["snapshot"] is None
+
+
+def test_dvcs_loader_exc_no_snapshot(caplog):
+    logger_name = "dvcsloadernosnapshot"
+    caplog.set_level(logging.ERROR, logger=logger_name)
+
+    loader = DummyDVCSLoaderNoSnapshot(logging_class=logger_name)
+    result = loader.load()
+
+    assert result == {"status": "failed"}
+
+    for record in caplog.records:
+        if record.levelname != "ERROR":
+            continue
+        assert "Loading failure" in record.message
+        assert record.exc_info
+        exc = record.exc_info[1]
+        assert isinstance(exc, ValueError)
+        assert "null snapshot" in exc.args[0]