diff --git a/docs/README.rst b/docs/README.rst
--- a/docs/README.rst
+++ b/docs/README.rst
@@ -38,8 +38,7 @@
 retrieve it using the :ref:`vault <swh-vault>` feature of the SWH Archive platform.
 
 The differences between a piece of code uploaded using the deposit rather than simply
-asking SWH to archive a repository using the `save code now
-<https://archive.softwareheritage.org/save/>`_ feature are:
+asking SWH to archive a repository using the :swh_web:`save/` feature are:
 
 - a deposited artifact is provided from one of the SWH partners which is regarded as a
   trusted authority,
diff --git a/swh/deposit/api/common.py b/swh/deposit/api/common.py
--- a/swh/deposit/api/common.py
+++ b/swh/deposit/api/common.py
@@ -807,8 +807,17 @@
             - 415 (unsupported media type) if a wrong media type is provided
 
         """
+        metadata_stream = request.data
+        if not metadata_stream:
+            raise DepositError(
+                BAD_REQUEST,
+                "Empty body request is not supported",
+                "Atom entry deposit is supposed to send for metadata. "
+                "If the body is empty, there is no metadata.",
+            )
+
         try:
-            raw_metadata, metadata = self._read_metadata(request.data)
+            raw_metadata, metadata = self._read_metadata(metadata_stream)
         except ParserError:
             raise DepositError(
                 BAD_REQUEST,