diff --git a/qutebrowser/mainwindow/mainwindow.py b/qutebrowser/mainwindow/mainwindow.py
index 9858abf7d..fbc86d010 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/mainwindow/mainwindow.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/mainwindow/mainwindow.py
@@ -184,8 +184,6 @@ class MainWindow(QWidget):
 
         self._keyhint = keyhintwidget.KeyHintView(self.win_id, self)
         self._add_overlay(self._keyhint, self._keyhint.update_geometry)
-        self._messageview = messageview.MessageView(parent=self)
-        self._add_overlay(self._messageview, self._messageview.update_geometry)
 
         self._prompt_container = prompt.PromptContainer(self.win_id, self)
         self._add_overlay(self._prompt_container,
@@ -195,6 +193,9 @@ class MainWindow(QWidget):
                         scope='window', window=self.win_id)
         self._prompt_container.hide()
 
+        self._messageview = messageview.MessageView(parent=self)
+        self._add_overlay(self._messageview, self._messageview.update_geometry)
+
         if geometry is not None:
             self._load_geometry(geometry)
         elif self.win_id == 0:
diff --git a/qutebrowser/mainwindow/prompt.py b/qutebrowser/mainwindow/prompt.py
index 8a469cb00..f57e2cad6 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/mainwindow/prompt.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/mainwindow/prompt.py
@@ -25,10 +25,9 @@ import collections
 
 import sip
 from PyQt5.QtCore import (pyqtSlot, pyqtSignal, Qt, QTimer, QDir, QModelIndex,
-                          QItemSelectionModel, QObject, QEventLoop, QPoint)
+                          QItemSelectionModel, QObject, QEventLoop)
 from PyQt5.QtWidgets import (QWidget, QGridLayout, QVBoxLayout, QLineEdit,
-                             QLabel, QFileSystemModel, QTreeView, QSizePolicy,
-                             QToolTip)
+                             QLabel, QFileSystemModel, QTreeView, QSizePolicy)
 
 from qutebrowser.browser import downloads
 from qutebrowser.config import style, config
@@ -643,15 +642,11 @@ class FilenamePrompt(_BasePrompt):
         self._file_model.directoryLoaded.connect(
             lambda: self._file_model.sort(0))
 
-    def _show_error(self, msg):
-        log.prompt.error(msg)
-        QToolTip.showText(self._lineedit.mapToGlobal(QPoint(0, 0)), msg)
-
     def accept(self, value=None):
         text = value if value is not None else self._lineedit.text()
         text = downloads.transform_path(text)
         if text is None:
-            self._show_error("Invalid filename")
+            message.error("Invalid filename")
             return False
         self.question.answer = text
         return True
@@ -703,13 +698,11 @@ class DownloadFilenamePrompt(FilenamePrompt):
         self._file_model.setFilter(QDir.AllDirs | QDir.Drives | QDir.NoDot)
 
     def accept(self, value=None):
-        text = value if value is not None else self._lineedit.text()
-        text = downloads.transform_path(text)
-        if text is None:
-            self._show_error("Invalid filename")
-            return False
-        self.question.answer = downloads.FileDownloadTarget(text)
-        return True
+        done = super().accept(value)
+        answer = self.question.answer
+        if answer is not None:
+            self.question.answer = downloads.FileDownloadTarget(answer)
+        return done
 
     def download_open(self, cmdline):
         self.question.answer = downloads.OpenFileDownloadTarget(cmdline)
diff --git a/tests/end2end/features/downloads.feature b/tests/end2end/features/downloads.feature
index 1e4587740..fe312944f 100644
--- a/tests/end2end/features/downloads.feature
+++ b/tests/end2end/features/downloads.feature
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ Feature: Downloading things from a website.
         And I wait for "Asking question <qutebrowser.utils.usertypes.Question default='*' mode=<PromptMode.download: 5> text='Please enter a location for <b>http://localhost:*/data/downloads/download.bin</b>' title='Save file to:'>, *" in the log
         And I run :prompt-accept COM1
         And I run :leave-mode
-        Then "Invalid filename" should be logged
+        Then the error "Invalid filename" should be shown
 
     @windows
     Scenario: Downloading a file to a drive-relative working directory
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ Feature: Downloading things from a website.
         And I wait for "Asking question <qutebrowser.utils.usertypes.Question default='*' mode=<PromptMode.download: 5> text='Please enter a location for <b>http://localhost:*/data/downloads/download.bin</b>' title='Save file to:'>, *" in the log
         And I run :prompt-accept C:foobar
         And I run :leave-mode
-        Then "Invalid filename" should be logged
+        Then the error "Invalid filename" should be shown
 
     @windows
     Scenario: Downloading a file to a reserved path with :download