diff --git a/lib/libalpm/alpm.h b/lib/libalpm/alpm.h
index 96e5e643..f72d61a9 100644
--- a/lib/libalpm/alpm.h
+++ b/lib/libalpm/alpm.h
@@ -308,6 +308,8 @@ typedef enum _alpm_errno_t {
 	/** Files conflict */
 	ALPM_ERR_FILE_CONFLICTS,
 	/* Misc */
+	/** Download setup failed */
+	ALPM_ERR_RETRIEVE_PREPARE,
 	/** Download failed */
 	ALPM_ERR_RETRIEVE,
 	/** Invalid Regex */
diff --git a/lib/libalpm/error.c b/lib/libalpm/error.c
index 58842eac..ca97d884 100644
--- a/lib/libalpm/error.c
+++ b/lib/libalpm/error.c
@@ -138,6 +138,8 @@ const char SYMEXPORT *alpm_strerror(alpm_errno_t err)
 		case ALPM_ERR_FILE_CONFLICTS:
 			return _("conflicting files");
 		/* Miscellaneous */
+		case ALPM_ERR_RETRIEVE_PREPARE:
+			return _("failed to initialize download");
 		case ALPM_ERR_RETRIEVE:
 			return _("failed to retrieve some files");
 		case ALPM_ERR_INVALID_REGEX:
diff --git a/lib/libalpm/util.c b/lib/libalpm/util.c
index 058bb77f..6d486d4c 100644
--- a/lib/libalpm/util.c
+++ b/lib/libalpm/util.c
@@ -974,7 +974,7 @@ char *_alpm_temporary_download_dir_setup(alpm_handle_t *handle, const char *dir)
 						_("failed to get download user '%s': %s\n"),
 						user, strerror(errno));
 			}
-			RET_ERR(handle, ALPM_ERR_RETRIEVE, NULL);
+			RET_ERR(handle, ALPM_ERR_RETRIEVE_PREPARE, NULL);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -988,7 +988,7 @@ char *_alpm_temporary_download_dir_setup(alpm_handle_t *handle, const char *dir)
 				_("failed to create temporary download directory %s: %s\n"),
 				newdir, strerror(errno));
 		free(newdir);
-		RET_ERR(handle, ALPM_ERR_RETRIEVE, NULL);
+		RET_ERR(handle, ALPM_ERR_RETRIEVE_PREPARE, NULL);
 	}
 	if(pw != NULL) {
 		if(chown(newdir, pw->pw_uid, pw->pw_gid) == -1) {
@@ -996,7 +996,7 @@ char *_alpm_temporary_download_dir_setup(alpm_handle_t *handle, const char *dir)
 					_("failed to chown temporary download directory %s: %s\n"),
 					newdir, strerror(errno));
 			free(newdir);
-			RET_ERR(handle, ALPM_ERR_RETRIEVE, NULL);
+			RET_ERR(handle, ALPM_ERR_RETRIEVE_PREPARE, NULL);
 		}
 	}
 	newdir[newdirlen-2] = '/';