diff --git a/osclib/stagingapi.py b/osclib/stagingapi.py
index 1cf12f12..ac0db0a5 100644
--- a/osclib/stagingapi.py
+++ b/osclib/stagingapi.py
@@ -506,6 +506,10 @@ class StagingAPI(object):
                 source_info_new = self.source_info_request(request_new)
                 source_info_old = self.source_info_request(request_old)
 
+                if source_info_old is None:
+                    # Old source was removed thus new request likely to replace.
+                    return stage_info, None
+
                 source_same = source_info_new.get('verifymd5') == source_info_old.get('verifymd5')
                 message = 'sr#{} has {} source and is already staged'.format(
                     request_old.get('id'), 'same' if source_same else 'different')