diff --git a/pyvo/utils/download.py b/pyvo/utils/download.py
index 56452dc9f..ccdf08d0f 100644
--- a/pyvo/utils/download.py
+++ b/pyvo/utils/download.py
@@ -69,8 +69,7 @@ def http_download(url,
         length = None
 
     if cache and os.path.exists(local_filepath):
-        with open(local_filepath, 'rb') as fp:
-            local_size = os.path.getsize(local_filepath)
+        local_size = os.stat(local_filepath).st_size
         if length is not None and local_size != length:
             warn('Found cached file but it has the wrong size. Overwriting ...',
                  category=PyvoUserWarning)
@@ -235,8 +234,7 @@ def aws_download(uri=None,
     if cache and os.path.exists(local_filepath):
 
         if length is not None:
-            with open(local_filepath, 'rb') as fp:
-                local_size = os.path.getsize(local_filepath)
+            local_size = os.stat(local_filepath).st_size
             if local_size == length:
                 # found cached file with expected size. Stop
                 if verbose: