diff --git a/plugins/wallabag.koplugin/main.lua b/plugins/wallabag.koplugin/main.lua
index 2a53d21a4..416eeb4d6 100644
--- a/plugins/wallabag.koplugin/main.lua
+++ b/plugins/wallabag.koplugin/main.lua
@@ -667,6 +667,7 @@ function Wallabag:callAPI(method, apiurl, headers, body, filepath, quiet)
     -- raise error message when network is unavailable
     if resp_headers == nil then
         logger.dbg("Wallabag: Server error:", status or code)
+        self:removeFailedDownload(filepath)
         return nil, "network_error"
     end
     if code == 200 then
@@ -693,11 +694,7 @@ function Wallabag:callAPI(method, apiurl, headers, body, filepath, quiet)
         end
     else
         if filepath ~= "" then
-            local entry_mode = lfs.attributes(filepath, "mode")
-            if entry_mode == "file" then
-                os.remove(filepath)
-                logger.dbg("Wallabag: Removed failed download:", filepath)
-            end
+            self:removeFailedDownload(filepath)
         elseif not quiet then
             UIManager:show(InfoMessage:new{
                 text = _("Communication with server failed."), })
@@ -708,6 +705,16 @@ function Wallabag:callAPI(method, apiurl, headers, body, filepath, quiet)
     end
 end
 
+function Wallabag:removeFailedDownload(filepath)
+    if filepath ~= "" then
+        local entry_mode = lfs.attributes(filepath, "mode")
+        if entry_mode == "file" then
+            os.remove(filepath)
+            logger.dbg("Wallabag: Removed failed download:", filepath)
+        end
+    end
+end
+
 function Wallabag:synchronize()
     local info = InfoMessage:new{ text = _("Connecting…") }
     UIManager:show(info)