diff --git a/src/download.rs b/src/download.rs
index 849de01de6..425b012880 100644
--- a/src/download.rs
+++ b/src/download.rs
@@ -98,19 +98,26 @@ impl MsgId {
         Ok(())
     }
 
+    /// Updates the message download state. Returns `Ok` if the message doesn't exist anymore.
     pub(crate) async fn update_download_state(
         self,
         context: &Context,
         download_state: DownloadState,
     ) -> Result<()> {
-        let msg = Message::load_from_db(context, self).await?;
-        context
+        if context
             .sql
             .execute(
                 "UPDATE msgs SET download_state=? WHERE id=?;",
                 (download_state, self),
             )
-            .await?;
+            .await?
+            == 0
+        {
+            return Ok(());
+        }
+        let Some(msg) = Message::load_from_db_optional(context, self).await? else {
+            return Ok(());
+        };
         context.emit_event(EventType::MsgsChanged {
             chat_id: msg.chat_id,
             msg_id: self,