diff --git a/lib/general.sh b/lib/general.sh
index 950c4ebd1d..b48caa48df 100644
--- a/lib/general.sh
+++ b/lib/general.sh
@@ -1202,6 +1202,9 @@ download_and_verify()
 		return
 	fi
 
+	# check if file exists on remote server before running aria2 downloader
+	[[ ! `wget -S --spider ${server}${remotedir}/${filename}  2>&1 | grep 'HTTP/1.1 200 OK'` ]] && return
+
 	cd "${localdir}" || exit
 
 	# use local control file