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",