diff --git a/lbrynet/blob_exchange/client.py b/lbrynet/blob_exchange/client.py
index 7ab36fd96..4162ef593 100644
--- a/lbrynet/blob_exchange/client.py
+++ b/lbrynet/blob_exchange/client.py
@@ -185,9 +185,6 @@ async def request_blob(loop: asyncio.BaseEventLoop, blob: 'BlobFile', address: s
     Returns [<downloaded blob>, <keep connection>]
     """
 
-    if blob.get_is_verified() or blob.file_exists:
-        # file exists but not verified means someone is writing right now, give it time, come back later
-        return 0, connected_transport
     protocol = BlobExchangeClientProtocol(loop, blob_download_timeout)
     if connected_transport and not connected_transport.is_closing():
         connected_transport.set_protocol(protocol)
@@ -199,6 +196,9 @@ async def request_blob(loop: asyncio.BaseEventLoop, blob: 'BlobFile', address: s
         if not connected_transport:
             await asyncio.wait_for(loop.create_connection(lambda: protocol, address, tcp_port),
                                    peer_connect_timeout, loop=loop)
+        if blob.get_is_verified() or blob.file_exists:
+            # file exists but not verified means someone is writing right now, give it time, come back later
+            return 0, connected_transport
         return await protocol.download_blob(blob)
     except (asyncio.TimeoutError, ConnectionRefusedError, ConnectionAbortedError, OSError):
         return 0, None
diff --git a/lbrynet/blob_exchange/downloader.py b/lbrynet/blob_exchange/downloader.py
index 59a5b0ec5..b602225c5 100644
--- a/lbrynet/blob_exchange/downloader.py
+++ b/lbrynet/blob_exchange/downloader.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ class BlobDownloader:
         self.connections: typing.Dict['KademliaPeer', asyncio.Transport] = {}
         self.rounds_won: typing.Dict['KademliaPeer', int] = {}
 
-    def should_race_continue(self):
+    def should_race_continue(self, blob: 'BlobFile'):
         if len(self.active_connections) >= self.config.max_connections_per_download:
             return False
         # if a peer won 3 or more blob races and is active as a downloader, stop the race so bandwidth improves
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ class BlobDownloader:
         # for peer, task in self.active_connections.items():
         #   if self.scores.get(peer, 0) >= 0 and self.rounds_won.get(peer, 0) >= 3 and not task.done():
         #       return False
-        return True
+        return not (blob.get_is_verified() or blob.file_exists)
 
     async def request_blob_from_peer(self, blob: 'BlobFile', peer: 'KademliaPeer'):
         if blob.get_is_verified():
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ class BlobDownloader:
                     len(batch), len(self.ignored), len(self.active_connections)
                 )
                 for peer in batch:
-                    if not self.should_race_continue():
+                    if not self.should_race_continue(blob):
                         break
                     if peer not in self.active_connections and peer not in self.ignored:
                         log.debug("request %s from %s:%i", blob_hash[:8], peer.address, peer.tcp_port)