diff --git a/qutebrowser/app.py b/qutebrowser/app.py
index efbd5a4cc..087b63f82 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/app.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/app.py
@@ -424,6 +424,7 @@ class Application(QApplication):
 
         # downloads
         tabs.start_download.connect(self.downloadmanager.fetch)
+        tabs.download_get.connect(self.downloadmanager.get)
 
     def get_all_widgets(self):
         """Get a string list of all widgets."""
diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py b/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py
index 2edaf16d5..c9e260978 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ import subprocess
 from functools import partial
 
 from PyQt5.QtWidgets import QApplication
-from PyQt5.QtCore import Qt, QUrl
+from PyQt5.QtCore import pyqtSignal, Qt, QUrl
 from PyQt5.QtGui import QClipboard
 from PyQt5.QtPrintSupport import QPrintDialog, QPrintPreviewDialog
 from PyQt5.QtWebKitWidgets import QWebInspector
@@ -59,8 +59,14 @@ class CommandDispatcher:
         _tabs: The TabbedBrowser object.
         _editor: The ExternalEditor object.
         _userscript_runners: A list of userscript runners.
+
+    Signals:
+        start_download: When a download should be started.
+                        arg: What to download, as QUrl.
     """
 
+    start_download = pyqtSignal('QUrl')
+
     def __init__(self, parent):
         """Constructor.
 
@@ -696,7 +702,7 @@ class CommandDispatcher:
     @cmdutils.register(instance='mainwindow.tabs.cmd')
     def download_page(self):
         """Download the current page."""
-        QApplication.instance().downloadmanager.get(self._current_url())
+        self.start_download.emit(self._current_url())
 
     @cmdutils.register(instance='mainwindow.tabs.cmd', modes=['insert'],
                        hide=True)
diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/downloads.py b/qutebrowser/browser/downloads.py
index 3f382879a..d431e49d3 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/downloads.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/downloads.py
@@ -332,6 +332,7 @@ class DownloadManager(QObject):
     def __repr__(self):
         return '<{}>'.format(self.__class__.__name__)
 
+    @pyqtSlot('QUrl')
     def get(self, url):
         """Start a download with a link URL.
 
diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/hints.py b/qutebrowser/browser/hints.py
index 606f58b02..ffe395966 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/hints.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/hints.py
@@ -90,6 +90,8 @@ class HintManager(QObject):
                  arg 0: URL to open as QUrl.
                  arg 1: True if it should be opened in a new tab, else False.
         set_open_target: Set a new target to open the links in.
+        download_get: Download an URL.
+                      arg: The URL to download, as QUrl.
     """
 
     HINT_CSS = """
@@ -123,6 +125,7 @@ class HintManager(QObject):
     mouse_event = pyqtSignal('QMouseEvent')
     openurl = pyqtSignal('QUrl', bool)
     set_open_target = pyqtSignal(str)
+    download_get = pyqtSignal('QUrl')
 
     def __init__(self, parent=None):
         """Constructor.
@@ -331,7 +334,7 @@ class HintManager(QObject):
             url: The URL to download, as a QUrl.
         """
         qt_ensure_valid(url)
-        QApplication.instance().downloadmanager.get(url)
+        self.download_get.emit(url)
 
     def _resolve_url(self, elem, baseurl=None):
         """Resolve a URL and check if we want to keep it.
diff --git a/qutebrowser/widgets/tabbedbrowser.py b/qutebrowser/widgets/tabbedbrowser.py
index 6633fb2bd..d43c18039 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/widgets/tabbedbrowser.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/widgets/tabbedbrowser.py
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ class TabbedBrowser(TabWidget):
         current_tab_changed: The current tab changed to the emitted WebView.
         title_changed: Emitted when the application title should be changed.
                        arg: The new title as string.
+        download_get: Emitted when a QUrl should be downloaded.
     """
 
     cur_progress = pyqtSignal(int)
@@ -90,6 +91,7 @@ class TabbedBrowser(TabWidget):
     cur_scroll_perc_changed = pyqtSignal(int, int)
     cur_load_status_changed = pyqtSignal(str)
     start_download = pyqtSignal('QNetworkReply*')
+    download_get = pyqtSignal('QUrl')
     hint_strings_updated = pyqtSignal(list)
     shutdown_complete = pyqtSignal()
     quit = pyqtSignal()
@@ -163,6 +165,7 @@ class TabbedBrowser(TabWidget):
             self._filter.create(self.cur_load_status_changed))
         # hintmanager
         tab.hintmanager.hint_strings_updated.connect(self.hint_strings_updated)
+        tab.hintmanager.download_get.connect(self.download_get)
         tab.hintmanager.openurl.connect(self.openurl)
         # downloads
         tab.page().unsupportedContent.connect(self.start_download)