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
@@ -340,7 +340,7 @@
 
         """
         status_load = "uneventful"  # either: eventful, uneventful, failed
-        status_visit = "full"  # either: partial, full
+        status_visit = "full"  # either: partial, full, not_found, failed
         tmp_revisions = {}  # type: Dict[str, List]
         snapshot = None
         failed_branches: List[str] = []
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@
         except Exception as e:
             logger.exception("Failed to get previous state for %s", self.url)
             sentry_sdk.capture_exception(e)
-            status_visit = "partial"
+            status_visit = "failed"
             status_load = "failed"
             return finalize_visit()
 
@@ -452,7 +452,7 @@
 
         if not tmp_revisions:
             # We could not load any revisions; fail completely
-            status_visit = "partial"
+            status_visit = "failed"
             status_load = "failed"
             return finalize_visit()
 
@@ -471,7 +471,7 @@
         except Exception as e:
             logger.exception("Failed to build snapshot for origin %s", self.url)
             sentry_sdk.capture_exception(e)
-            status_visit = "partial"
+            status_visit = "failed"
             status_load = "failed"
 
         if snapshot:
diff --git a/swh/loader/package/npm/tests/test_npm.py b/swh/loader/package/npm/tests/test_npm.py
--- a/swh/loader/package/npm/tests/test_npm.py
+++ b/swh/loader/package/npm/tests/test_npm.py
@@ -700,4 +700,4 @@
         "status": "failed",
     }
 
-    assert_last_visit_matches(loader.storage, url, status="partial", type="npm")
+    assert_last_visit_matches(loader.storage, url, status="failed", type="npm")
diff --git a/swh/loader/package/pypi/tests/test_pypi.py b/swh/loader/package/pypi/tests/test_pypi.py
--- a/swh/loader/package/pypi/tests/test_pypi.py
+++ b/swh/loader/package/pypi/tests/test_pypi.py
@@ -251,6 +251,36 @@
     assert_last_visit_matches(loader.storage, url, status="partial", type="pypi")
 
 
+def test_pypi_fail__load_snapshot(swh_config, requests_mock_datadir):
+    """problem during loading: {visit: failed, status: failed, no snapshot}
+
+    """
+    url = "https://pypi.org/project/0805nexter"
+    with patch(
+        "swh.loader.package.pypi.loader.PyPILoader._load_snapshot",
+        side_effect=ValueError("Fake problem to fail visit"),
+    ):
+        loader = PyPILoader(url)
+
+        actual_load_status = loader.load()
+        assert actual_load_status == {"status": "failed"}
+
+        stats = get_stats(loader.storage)
+
+        assert {
+            "content": 6,
+            "directory": 4,
+            "origin": 1,
+            "origin_visit": 1,
+            "release": 0,
+            "revision": 2,
+            "skipped_content": 0,
+            "snapshot": 0,
+        } == stats
+
+        assert_last_visit_matches(loader.storage, url, status="failed", type="pypi")
+
+
 # problem during loading:
 # {visit: partial, status: uneventful, no snapshot}
 
@@ -279,7 +309,7 @@
             "snapshot": 0,
         } == stats
 
-        assert_last_visit_matches(loader.storage, url, status="partial", type="pypi")
+        assert_last_visit_matches(loader.storage, url, status="failed", type="pypi")
 
 
 # problem during loading: failure early enough in between swh contents...