diff --git a/swh/web/common/origin_save.py b/swh/web/common/origin_save.py
--- a/swh/web/common/origin_save.py
+++ b/swh/web/common/origin_save.py
@@ -378,7 +378,6 @@
     """
     _check_visit_type_savable(visit_type)
     _check_origin_url_valid(origin_url)
-    _check_origin_exists(origin_url)
     # if all checks passed so far, we can try and save the origin
     save_request_status = can_save_origin(origin_url, bypass_pending_review)
     task = None
diff --git a/swh/web/tests/admin/test_origin_save.py b/swh/web/tests/admin/test_origin_save.py
--- a/swh/web/tests/admin/test_origin_save.py
+++ b/swh/web/tests/admin/test_origin_save.py
@@ -122,7 +122,6 @@
 
 def test_accept_pending_save_request(client, mocker):
     mock_scheduler = mocker.patch("swh.web.common.origin_save.scheduler")
-    mock_origin_exists = mocker.patch("swh.web.common.origin_save._check_origin_exists")
     visit_type = "git"
     origin_url = "https://v2.pikacode.com/bthate/botlib.git"
     save_request_url = reverse(
@@ -131,7 +130,6 @@
     )
     response = check_http_post_response(client, save_request_url, status_code=200)
     assert response.data["save_request_status"] == SAVE_REQUEST_PENDING
-    assert mock_origin_exists.called
 
     accept_request_url = reverse(
         "admin-origin-save-request-accept",
@@ -162,16 +160,11 @@
     assert response.data[0]["save_task_status"] == SAVE_TASK_NOT_YET_SCHEDULED
 
 
-def test_reject_pending_save_request(client, mocker, requests_mock):
+def test_reject_pending_save_request(client, mocker):
     mock_scheduler = mocker.patch("swh.web.common.origin_save.scheduler")
     visit_type = "git"
     origin_url = "https://wikipedia.com"
 
-    # see swh.web.common.origin_save.origin_exists
-    requests_mock.head(
-        origin_url, status_code=200,
-    )
-
     save_request_url = reverse(
         "api-1-save-origin",
         url_args={"visit_type": visit_type, "origin_url": origin_url},
diff --git a/swh/web/tests/api/views/test_origin_save.py b/swh/web/tests/api/views/test_origin_save.py
--- a/swh/web/tests/api/views/test_origin_save.py
+++ b/swh/web/tests/api/views/test_origin_save.py
@@ -446,11 +446,6 @@
     api_client, origin_to_review, requests_mock
 ):
 
-    # see swh.web.common.origin_save.origin_exists
-    requests_mock.head(
-        origin_to_review, status_code=200,
-    )
-
     url = reverse(
         "api-1-save-origin",
         url_args={"visit_type": "git", "origin_url": origin_to_review},
@@ -472,11 +467,6 @@
     oidc_profile = keycloak_oidc.login()
     api_client.credentials(HTTP_AUTHORIZATION=f"Bearer {oidc_profile['refresh_token']}")
 
-    # see swh.web.common.origin_save.origin_exists
-    requests_mock.head(
-        origin_to_review, status_code=200,
-    )
-
     check_created_save_request_status(
         api_client,
         mocker,
diff --git a/swh/web/tests/common/test_origin_save.py b/swh/web/tests/common/test_origin_save.py
--- a/swh/web/tests/common/test_origin_save.py
+++ b/swh/web/tests/common/test_origin_save.py
@@ -319,6 +319,22 @@
     )
 
 
+def test__check_origin_exists_404(requests_mock):
+    url_ko = "https://example.org/some-inexistant-url"
+    requests_mock.head(url_ko, status_code=404)
+
+    with pytest.raises(BadInputExc, match="not exist"):
+        _check_origin_exists(url_ko)
+
+
+def test__check_origin_exists_200(requests_mock):
+    url = "https://example.org/url"
+    requests_mock.head(url, status_code=200)
+
+    # passes the check
+    _check_origin_exists(url)
+
+
 def test_origin_exists_404(requests_mock):
     """Origin which does not exist should be reported as inexistent"""
     url_ko = "https://example.org/some-inexistant-url"
@@ -329,9 +345,6 @@
         origin_url=url_ko, exists=False, last_modified=None, content_length=None,
     )
 
-    with pytest.raises(BadInputExc, match="not exist"):
-        _check_origin_exists(url_ko)
-
 
 def test_origin_exists_200_no_data(requests_mock):
     """Existing origin should be reported as such (no extra information)"""
@@ -345,9 +358,6 @@
         origin_url=url, exists=True, last_modified=None, content_length=None,
     )
 
-    # passes the check
-    _check_origin_exists(url)
-
 
 def test_origin_exists_200_with_data(requests_mock):
     """Existing origin should be reported as such (+ extra information)"""
@@ -369,9 +379,6 @@
         last_modified="Sun, 21 Aug 2011 16:26:32 GMT",
     )
 
-    # passes the check
-    _check_origin_exists(url)
-
 
 @pytest.mark.django_db
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("visit_status", ["created", "ongoing",])