diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/downloads.py b/qutebrowser/browser/downloads.py
index 3f8bf116c..5a95e4a00 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/downloads.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/downloads.py
@@ -296,10 +296,10 @@ class DownloadItem(QObject):
         else:
             self.set_fileobj(fileobj)
 
-    def _ask_overwrite_question(self):
+    def _ask_confirm_question(self, msg):
         """Create a Question object to be asked."""
         q = usertypes.Question(self)
-        q.text = self._filename + " already exists. Overwrite? (y/n)"
+        q.text = msg + ' (N/y)'
         q.mode = usertypes.PromptMode.yesno
         q.answered_yes.connect(self._create_fileobj)
         q.answered_no.connect(functools.partial(self.cancel, False))
@@ -452,7 +452,14 @@ class DownloadItem(QObject):
         if os.path.isfile(self._filename):
             # The file already exists, so ask the user if it should be
             # overwritten.
-            self._ask_overwrite_question()
+            self._ask_confirm_question(self._filename +
+                                       " already exists. Overwrite?")
+        # FIFO, device node, etc. Make sure we want to do this
+        elif (os.path.exists(self._filename) and not
+                os.path.isdir(self._filename)):
+            self._ask_confirm_question(self._filename +
+                                       " already exists and is a special file."
+                                       " Write to this?")
         else:
             self._create_fileobj()