diff --git a/swh/loader/git/loader.py b/swh/loader/git/loader.py
--- a/swh/loader/git/loader.py
+++ b/swh/loader/git/loader.py
@@ -223,8 +223,7 @@
             prev_snapshot = self.get_full_snapshot(origin_url)
 
         if self.base_url and prev_snapshot is None:
-            base_origin = Origin(url=self.base_url)
-            base_origin = self.storage.origin_get(base_origin)
+            base_origin = self.storage.origin_get([self.base_url])[0]
             if base_origin:
                 base_origin_url = base_origin.url
                 prev_snapshot = self.get_full_snapshot(base_origin_url)