diff --git a/uplink/src/collector/downloader.rs b/uplink/src/collector/downloader.rs
index 893e94ec..ce5bbe38 100644
--- a/uplink/src/collector/downloader.rs
+++ b/uplink/src/collector/downloader.rs
@@ -93,6 +93,8 @@ pub enum Error {
     BadSave,
     #[error("Save file doesn't exist")]
     NoSave,
+    #[error("Download timedout")]
+    Timeout,
 }
 
 /// This struct contains the necessary components to download and store file as notified by a download file
@@ -221,7 +223,13 @@ impl FileDownloader {
             // NOTE: if download has timedout don't do anything, else ensure errors are forwarded after three retries
             o = timeout_at(deadline, self.continuous_retry(state)) => match o {
                 Ok(r) => r?,
-                Err(_) => error!("Last download has timedout"),
+                Err(_) => {
+                    // unwrap is safe because download_path is expected to be Some
+                    _ = remove_file(state.current.meta.download_path.as_ref().unwrap());
+                    error!("Last download has timedout; file deleted");
+
+                    return Err(Error::Timeout);
+                },
             }
         }