diff --git a/oml/item/models.py b/oml/item/models.py
index 546dfc9..4cad67e 100644
--- a/oml/item/models.py
+++ b/oml/item/models.py
@@ -378,6 +378,10 @@ class Item(db.Model):
         u = state.user()
         if not u in self.users:
             t = Transfer.get_or_create(self.id)
+            if not t.added:
+                t.added = datetime.utcnow()
+                t.progress = 0
+                t.save()
             logger.debug('queue %s for download', self.id)
             self.add_user(u)
 
diff --git a/oml/nodes.py b/oml/nodes.py
index 2307550..2d59198 100644
--- a/oml/nodes.py
+++ b/oml/nodes.py
@@ -332,14 +332,18 @@ class Node(Thread):
                     if since_ct > 1:
                         ct = datetime.utcnow()
                         t = Transfer.get(item.id)
-                        t.progress = len(content) / item.info['size']
-                        t.save()
-                        trigger_event('transfer', {
-                            'id': item.id, 'progress': t.progress
-                        })
-                        if state.bandwidth:
-                            state.bandwidth.download(size/since_ct)
-                            size = 0
+                        if not t.added:
+                            # transfer was canceled
+                            return False
+                        else:
+                            t.progress = len(content) / item.info['size']
+                            t.save()
+                            trigger_event('transfer', {
+                                'id': item.id, 'progress': t.progress
+                            })
+                            if state.bandwidth:
+                                state.bandwidth.download(size/since_ct)
+                                size = 0
                 '''
                 content = fileobj.read()
                 '''