diff --git a/frontend/src/hooks/useJob.ts b/frontend/src/hooks/useJob.ts
index d27e844..dd5887a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/hooks/useJob.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/hooks/useJob.ts
@@ -32,11 +32,13 @@ export function useJob(jobId: string) {
   });
 }
 
-export function useJobDownloads(jobId: string) {
+const EARLY_STATUSES = new Set(['created', 'ingesting', 'ai_processing']);
+
+export function useJobDownloads(jobId: string, jobStatus?: string) {
   return useQuery({
     queryKey: ['jobs', jobId, 'downloads'],
     queryFn: () => apiClient.getJobDownloads(jobId),
-    enabled: !!jobId,
+    enabled: !!jobId && (jobStatus === undefined || !EARLY_STATUSES.has(jobStatus)),
     staleTime: 30000, // 30 seconds
     refetchOnWindowFocus: false,
   });
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/Downloads.tsx b/frontend/src/routes/Downloads.tsx
index 280b7cc..19898eb 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/Downloads.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/Downloads.tsx
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ export function Downloads() {
   const { id } = useParams();
 
   const { data: job, isLoading: jobLoading } = useJob(id!);
-  const { data: downloads, isLoading: downloadsLoading, error: downloadsError } = useJobDownloads(id!);
+  const { data: downloads, isLoading: downloadsLoading, error: downloadsError } = useJobDownloads(id!, job?.status);
 
   if (jobLoading) {
     return (
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/admin/FinalDetail.tsx b/frontend/src/routes/admin/FinalDetail.tsx
index 01c8b0b..9db2424 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/admin/FinalDetail.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/admin/FinalDetail.tsx
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ export function FinalDetail() {
 
   const { data: job, isLoading, error } = useJob(id!);
   const { data: validation } = useJobValidation(id!);
-  const { data: downloads } = useJobDownloads(id!);
+  const { data: downloads } = useJobDownloads(id!, job?.status);
   const completeJobMutation = useCompleteJob();
   const rejectFinalMutation = useRejectFinalReview();
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/admin/QCDetail.tsx b/frontend/src/routes/admin/QCDetail.tsx
index 2b8a510..40c0ac4 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/admin/QCDetail.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/admin/QCDetail.tsx
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ export function QCDetail() {
 
   // Fetch VTT content for selected language
   const { data: vttContent, isLoading: vttLoading } = useJobVttContent(id!, selectedLanguage);
-  const { data: downloads } = useJobDownloads(id!);
+  const { data: downloads } = useJobDownloads(id!, job?.status);
 
   // Fetch accessible video edit state for selected language
   const { data: editState, isLoading: editStateLoading } = useAccessibleVideoEditState(id!, selectedLanguage);
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/jobs/JobDetail.tsx b/frontend/src/routes/jobs/JobDetail.tsx
index 0b31053..b7925ba 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/jobs/JobDetail.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/jobs/JobDetail.tsx
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ export function JobDetail() {
   const [activeTab, setActiveTab] = useState<'overview' | 'video' | 'assets' | 'history'>('overview');
 
   const { data: job, isLoading, error } = useJob(id!);
-  const { data: downloads } = useJobDownloads(id!);
+  const { data: downloads } = useJobDownloads(id!, job?.status);
   // Get source language from job (default to 'en' for backwards compatibility)
   const sourceLanguage = job?.source?.language || 'en';
   const { data: sourceVtt } = useJobVttContent(id!, sourceLanguage);