diff --git a/pointer/smudge.go b/pointer/smudge.go
index 79531b8257..a3f9663f72 100644
--- a/pointer/smudge.go
+++ b/pointer/smudge.go
@@ -31,13 +31,12 @@ func Smudge(writer io.Writer, ptr *Pointer, workingfile string, cb lfs.CopyCallb
 }
 
 func downloadFile(writer io.Writer, ptr *Pointer, workingfile, mediafile string, cb lfs.CopyCallback) *lfs.WrappedError {
+	fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Downloading %s (%s)\n", workingfile, pb.FormatBytes(ptr.Size))
 	reader, size, wErr := lfs.Download(filepath.Base(mediafile))
 	if reader != nil {
 		defer reader.Close()
 	}
 
-	fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Downloading %s (%s)\n", workingfile, pb.FormatBytes(ptr.Size))
-
 	if wErr != nil {
 		wErr.Errorf("Error downloading %s.", mediafile)
 		return wErr