diff --git a/telegram/handlers.go b/telegram/handlers.go
index a28d5da..cf8b3d8 100644
--- a/telegram/handlers.go
+++ b/telegram/handlers.go
@@ -134,11 +134,7 @@ func (c *Client) updateUserStatus(update *client.UpdateUserStatus) {
 func (c *Client) updateNewChat(update *client.UpdateNewChat) {
 	go func() {
 		if update.Chat != nil && update.Chat.Photo != nil && update.Chat.Photo.Small != nil {
-			_, err := c.client.DownloadFile(&client.DownloadFileRequest{
-				FileId:      update.Chat.Photo.Small.Id,
-				Priority:    32,
-				Synchronous: false,
-			})
+			_, err := c.DownloadFile(update.Chat.Photo.Small.Id, 32, true)
 
 			if err != nil {
 				log.Error("Failed to download the chat photo")
@@ -196,11 +192,7 @@ func (c *Client) updateNewMessage(update *client.UpdateNewMessage) {
 
 		// download file(s)
 		if file != nil && !file.Local.IsDownloadingCompleted {
-			c.client.DownloadFile(&client.DownloadFileRequest{
-				FileId:      file.Id,
-				Priority:    10,
-				Synchronous: false,
-			})
+			c.DownloadFile(file.Id, 10, false)
 		}
 		// OTR support (I do not know why would you need it, seriously)
 		if !strings.HasPrefix(text, "?OTR") {
diff --git a/telegram/utils.go b/telegram/utils.go
index 63a880e..be48497 100644
--- a/telegram/utils.go
+++ b/telegram/utils.go
@@ -635,3 +635,12 @@ func (c *Client) getLastMessages(id int64, query string, from int64, count int32
 		Limit:    count,
 	})
 }
+
+// DownloadFile actually obtains a file by id given by TDlib
+func (c *Client) DownloadFile(id int32, priority int32, synchronous bool) (*client.File, error) {
+	return c.client.DownloadFile(&client.DownloadFileRequest{
+		FileId:      id,
+		Priority:    priority,
+		Synchronous: synchronous,
+	})
+}
diff --git a/xmpp/handlers.go b/xmpp/handlers.go
index 07c30ec..6770e3a 100644
--- a/xmpp/handlers.go
+++ b/xmpp/handlers.go
@@ -236,6 +236,15 @@ func handleGetVcardTempIq(s xmpp.Sender, iq *stanza.IQ) {
 		if chat.Photo != nil {
 			path := chat.Photo.Small.Local.Path
 			file, err := os.Open(path)
+			// obtain the photo right now if still not downloaded
+			if err != nil && !chat.Photo.Small.Local.IsDownloadingCompleted {
+				tdFile, tdErr := session.DownloadFile(chat.Photo.Small.Id, 32, true)
+				if tdErr == nil {
+					path = tdFile.Local.Path
+					file, err = os.Open(path)
+				}
+			}
+
 			if err == nil {
 				defer file.Close()
 
@@ -250,6 +259,8 @@ func handleGetVcardTempIq(s xmpp.Sender, iq *stanza.IQ) {
 				}
 			} else if path != "" {
 				log.Errorf("Photo does not exist: %v", path)
+			} else {
+				log.Errorf("PHOTO: %#v", err.Error())
 			}
 		}
 	}