diff --git a/pyvo/utils/download.py b/pyvo/utils/download.py
index e14be3f69..450256f09 100644
--- a/pyvo/utils/download.py
+++ b/pyvo/utils/download.py
@@ -69,7 +69,9 @@ def http_download(url,
         length = None
 
     if cache and os.path.exists(local_filepath):
-        local_size = os.stat(local_filepath).st_size
+        with open(local_filepath, 'rb'):
+            fp.seek(0, os.SEEK_END)
+            local_size = fp.tell()
         if length is not None and local_size != length:
             warn('Found cached file but it has the wrong size. Overwriting ...',
                  category=PyvoUserWarning)
@@ -234,8 +236,10 @@ def aws_download(uri=None,
     if cache and os.path.exists(local_filepath):
 
         if length is not None:
-            statinfo = os.stat(local_filepath)
-            if statinfo.st_size == length:
+            with open(local_filepath, 'rb'):
+                fp.seek(0, os.SEEK_END)
+                local_size = fp.tell()
+            if local_size == length:
                 # found cached file with expected size. Stop
                 if verbose:
                     print(f'Found cached file {local_filepath}.')