diff --git a/Command/AddUrl.hs b/Command/AddUrl.hs
index 713a486a5c..ebf0810bae 100644
--- a/Command/AddUrl.hs
+++ b/Command/AddUrl.hs
@@ -16,9 +16,13 @@ import Command
 import qualified Backend
 import qualified Remote.Web
 import qualified Command.Add
+import qualified Annex
 import Messages
 import Content
 import PresenceLog
+import Types.Key
+import Locations
+import Utility
 
 command :: [Command]
 command = [repoCommand "addurl" paramPath seek "add urls to annex"]
@@ -38,16 +42,20 @@ start s = do
 			
 perform :: String -> FilePath -> CommandPerform
 perform url file = do
-	[(_, backend)] <- Backend.chooseBackends [file]
+	g <- Annex.gitRepo
 	showNote $ "downloading " ++ url
-	ok <- Remote.Web.download file [url]
+	let dummykey = stubKey { keyName = url, keyBackendName = "URL" }
+	let tmp = gitAnnexTmpLocation g dummykey
+	liftIO $ createDirectoryIfMissing True (parentDir tmp)
+	ok <- Remote.Web.download [url] tmp
 	if ok
 		then do
-			stored <- Backend.storeFileKey file backend
+			[(_, backend)] <- Backend.chooseBackends [file]
+			stored <- Backend.storeFileKey tmp backend
 			case stored of
 				Nothing -> stop
 				Just (key, _) -> do
-					moveAnnex key file
+					moveAnnex key tmp
 					Remote.Web.setUrl key url InfoPresent
 					next $ Command.Add.cleanup file key
 		else stop
diff --git a/Remote/Web.hs b/Remote/Web.hs
index 7425dec87e..304f191d31 100644
--- a/Remote/Web.hs
+++ b/Remote/Web.hs
@@ -82,7 +82,9 @@ setUrl key url status = do
 	logChange g key webUUID (if null us then InfoMissing else InfoPresent)
 
 downloadKey :: Key -> FilePath -> Annex Bool
-downloadKey key file = download file =<< getUrls key
+downloadKey key file = do
+	us <- getUrls key
+	download us file
 
 uploadKey :: Key -> Annex Bool
 uploadKey _ = do
@@ -116,9 +118,9 @@ urlexists url = do
 	res <- perform curl
 	return $ res == CurlOK
 
-download :: FilePath -> [URLString] -> Annex Bool
-download _ [] = return False
-download file (url:us) = do
+download :: [URLString] -> FilePath -> Annex Bool
+download [] _ = return False
+download (url:us) file = do
 	showProgress -- make way for curl progress bar
-	ok <- liftIO $ boolSystem "curl" [Params "-# -o", File file, File url]
-	if ok then return ok else download file us
+	ok <- liftIO $ boolSystem "curl" [Params "-C - -# -o", File file, File url]
+	if ok then return ok else download us file
diff --git a/doc/todo/tahoe_lfs_for_reals/comment_2_80b9e848edfdc7be21baab7d0cef0e3a._comment b/doc/todo/tahoe_lfs_for_reals/comment_2_80b9e848edfdc7be21baab7d0cef0e3a._comment
index a32461615f..6dba86c47c 100644
--- a/doc/todo/tahoe_lfs_for_reals/comment_2_80b9e848edfdc7be21baab7d0cef0e3a._comment
+++ b/doc/todo/tahoe_lfs_for_reals/comment_2_80b9e848edfdc7be21baab7d0cef0e3a._comment
@@ -7,4 +7,7 @@
 Whoops! You'd only told me O(N) twice before..
 
 So this is not too high priority. I think I would like to get the per-remote storage sorted out anyway, since probably it will be the thing needed to convert the URL backend into a special remote, which would then allow ripping out the otherwise unused pluggable backend infrastructure.
+
+Update: Per-remote storage is now sorted out, so this could be implemented
+if it actually made sense to do so.
 """]]