diff --git a/src/core/directives/external-content.ts b/src/core/directives/external-content.ts
index 6bbf6d9f4..17635acd3 100644
--- a/src/core/directives/external-content.ts
+++ b/src/core/directives/external-content.ts
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ import {
 } from '@angular/core';
 import { CoreApp } from '@services/app';
 import { CoreFile } from '@services/file';
-import { CoreFilepool } from '@services/filepool';
+import { CoreFilepool, CoreFilepoolFileActions, CoreFilepoolFileEventData } from '@services/filepool';
 import { CoreSites } from '@services/sites';
 import { CoreDomUtils } from '@services/utils/dom';
 import { CoreUrlUtils } from '@services/utils/url';
@@ -395,7 +395,12 @@ export class CoreExternalContentDirective implements AfterViewInit, OnChanges, O
         // Listen for download changes in the file.
         const eventName = await CoreFilepool.getFileEventNameByUrl(site.getId(), url);
 
-        this.fileEventObserver = CoreEvents.on(eventName, async () => {
+        this.fileEventObserver = CoreEvents.on(eventName, async (data: CoreFilepoolFileEventData) => {
+            if (data.action === CoreFilepoolFileActions.DOWNLOAD && !data.success) {
+                // Error downloading the file. Don't try again.
+                return;
+            }
+
             const newState = await CoreFilepool.getFileStateByUrl(site.getId(), url);
             if (newState === state) {
                 return;
diff --git a/src/core/services/filepool.ts b/src/core/services/filepool.ts
index 99d5ea855..40c2368a6 100644
--- a/src/core/services/filepool.ts
+++ b/src/core/services/filepool.ts
@@ -1251,7 +1251,7 @@ export class CoreFilepoolProvider {
     }
 
     /**
-     * Get the name of the event used to notify download events (CoreEventsProvider).
+     * Get the name of the event used to notify download events.
      *
      * @param siteId The site ID.
      * @param fileId The file ID.
@@ -1262,7 +1262,7 @@ export class CoreFilepoolProvider {
     }
 
     /**
-     * Get the name of the event used to notify download events (CoreEventsProvider).
+     * Get the name of the event used to notify download events.
      *
      * @param siteId The site ID.
      * @param fileUrl The absolute URL to the file.
@@ -3008,7 +3008,7 @@ export class CoreFilepoolProvider {
     }
 
     /**
-     * Trigger mmCoreEventPackageStatusChanged with the right data.
+     * Trigger package status changed event with the right data.
      *
      * @param siteId Site ID.
      * @param status New package status.