diff --git a/alexandria/core/tests/test_dav.py b/alexandria/core/tests/test_dav.py
index 2ba878b1..305b6ecc 100644
--- a/alexandria/core/tests/test_dav.py
+++ b/alexandria/core/tests/test_dav.py
@@ -228,10 +228,24 @@ def test_dav_url_schemes_unconfigured(db, file_factory, manabi, settings):
 def test_dav_without_content(db, manabi, settings, file_factory):
     settings.ALEXANDRIA_MANABI_DAV_URI_SCHEMES = {"text/plain": "ms-word:ofe|u|"}
 
-    file = file_factory(name="test.txt", mime_type="text/plain")
+    file = file_factory(
+        name="test.txt",
+        mime_type="text/plain",
+        modified_by_user="some-user",
+        modified_by_group="some-group",
+    )
+
     dav_app = TestApp(get_dav())
 
     with pytest.raises(AppError) as e:
-        dav_app.put(get_webdav_url_without_uri_scheme(file, "admin", "admin"), b"")
+        dav_app.put(
+            get_webdav_url_without_uri_scheme(
+                file,
+                "some-other-user",
+                "some-other-group",
+            ),
+            b"",
+        )
 
     assert "400 Bad Request" in str(e)
+    assert file.document.files.filter(variant=File.Variant.ORIGINAL).count() == 1
diff --git a/alexandria/dav_provider.py b/alexandria/dav_provider.py
index 43c779cf..89bb1909 100644
--- a/alexandria/dav_provider.py
+++ b/alexandria/dav_provider.py
@@ -98,36 +98,37 @@ def begin_write(self, *, content_type=None):
         return self.memory_file
 
     def end_write(self, *, with_errors):
-        file = self.file
-        if (
-            self.file.modified_by_user != self.user
-            or self.file.modified_by_group != self.group
-        ):
-            file = File(
-                variant=self.file.variant,
-                original=self.file.original,
-                name=self.file.name,
-                document=self.file.document,
-                encryption_status=self.file.encryption_status,
-                mime_type=self.file.mime_type,
-                created_by_user=self.user,
-                created_by_group=self.group,
-                modified_by_user=self.user,
-                modified_by_group=self.group,
-            )
-        file.size = self.memory_file.getbuffer().nbytes
-        self.memory_file.seek(0)
-        django_file = DjangoFile(name=file.name, file=self.memory_file)
-        file.content = django_file
-
-        try:
-            validate_file(file)
-        except ValidationError:
-            raise DAVError(HTTP_FORBIDDEN)
-
-        file.save()
-        self.file = file
-        self.memory_file.do_close()
+        if not with_errors:
+            file = self.file
+            if (
+                self.file.modified_by_user != self.user
+                or self.file.modified_by_group != self.group
+            ):
+                file = File(
+                    variant=self.file.variant,
+                    original=self.file.original,
+                    name=self.file.name,
+                    document=self.file.document,
+                    encryption_status=self.file.encryption_status,
+                    mime_type=self.file.mime_type,
+                    created_by_user=self.user,
+                    created_by_group=self.group,
+                    modified_by_user=self.user,
+                    modified_by_group=self.group,
+                )
+            file.size = self.memory_file.getbuffer().nbytes
+            self.memory_file.seek(0)
+            django_file = DjangoFile(name=file.name, file=self.memory_file)
+            file.content = django_file
+
+            try:
+                validate_file(file)
+            except ValidationError:
+                raise DAVError(HTTP_FORBIDDEN)
+
+            file.save()
+            self.file = file
+            self.memory_file.do_close()
         super().end_write(with_errors=with_errors)