diff --git a/swh/loader/svn/loader.py b/swh/loader/svn/loader.py
--- a/swh/loader/svn/loader.py
+++ b/swh/loader/svn/loader.py
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@
                     self.svnrepo.remote_url,
                     revision_start,
                 )
-                revision_start = self.svnrepo.initial_revision()
+                revision_start = 0
 
             # now we know history is ok, we start at next revision
             revision_start = revision_start + 1
diff --git a/swh/loader/svn/tests/test_loader.py b/swh/loader/svn/tests/test_loader.py
--- a/swh/loader/svn/tests/test_loader.py
+++ b/swh/loader/svn/tests/test_loader.py
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@
         repo_url,
         status="full",
         type="svn",
-        snapshot=hash_to_bytes("c499eebc1e201024d47d24053ac0080049305897"),
+        snapshot=hash_to_bytes("5aa61959e788e281fd6e187053d0f46c68e8d8bb"),
     )
 
     stats = get_stats(loader.storage)