diff --git a/include/downloader.h b/include/downloader.h
index 93a57603b..4cc7b7730 100644
--- a/include/downloader.h
+++ b/include/downloader.h
@@ -187,8 +187,6 @@ class Downloader
    * have different values for the download directory or output file name
    * options, after the download is reported to be complete the downloaded file
    * will be present only at the location specified for the first request.
-   * Also, due to the above peculiarity there is no straightforward way to
-   * repeat a completed or cancelled download whose files have been deleted.
    *
    * User should call `update` on the returned `Download` to have an accurate status.
    *
diff --git a/src/downloader.cpp b/src/downloader.cpp
index 44de4d40d..25dfc1e95 100644
--- a/src/downloader.cpp
+++ b/src/downloader.cpp
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
  */
 
 #include "downloader.h"
+#include "tools.h"
 #include "tools/pathTools.h"
 #include "tools/stringTools.h"
 
@@ -176,7 +177,25 @@ bool downloadCanBeReused(const Download& d,
   const auto& uris = d.getUris();
   const bool sameURI = std::find(uris.begin(), uris.end(), uri) != uris.end();
 
-  return sameURI;
+  if ( !sameURI )
+    return false;
+
+  switch ( d.getStatus() ) {
+  case Download::K_ERROR:
+  case Download::K_UNKNOWN:
+  case Download::K_REMOVED:
+    return false;
+
+  case Download::K_ACTIVE:
+  case Download::K_WAITING:
+  case Download::K_PAUSED:
+    return true; // XXX: what if options are different?
+
+  case Download::K_COMPLETE:
+    return fileExists(d.getPath()); // XXX: what if options are different?
+  }
+
+  return false;
 }
 
 } // unnamed namespace