diff --git a/robotoff/app/api.py b/robotoff/app/api.py
index 465e5c33d1..276c107a3f 100644
--- a/robotoff/app/api.py
+++ b/robotoff/app/api.py
@@ -1193,6 +1193,11 @@ def on_post(self, req: falcon.Request, resp: falcon.Response):
                 title="invalid_action",
                 description="action must be one of " "`deleted`, `updated`",
             )
+        if not barcode:
+            raise falcon.HTTPBadRequest(
+                title="invalid_barcode",
+                description="barcode should not be empty",
+            )
 
         server_type = ServerType.get_from_server_domain(server_domain)
         product_id = ProductIdentifier(barcode, server_type)