diff --git a/datasette/views/database.py b/datasette/views/database.py
index 0cbb432b..9f43980b 100644
--- a/datasette/views/database.py
+++ b/datasette/views/database.py
@@ -43,7 +43,14 @@ class DatabaseDownload(BaseView):
     async def view_get(self, request, database, hash, correct_hash_present, **kwargs):
         if not self.ds.config("allow_download"):
             raise DatasetteError("Database download is forbidden", status=403)
-        filepath = self.ds.inspect()[database]["file"]
+        if database not in self.ds.databases:
+            raise DatasetteError("Invalid database", status=404)
+        db = self.ds.databases[database]
+        if db.is_memory:
+            raise DatasetteError("Cannot download :memory: database", status=404)
+        if not db.path:
+            raise DatasetteError("Cannot download database", status=404)
+        filepath = db.path
         return await response.file_stream(
             filepath,
             filename=os.path.basename(filepath),
diff --git a/tests/fixtures.py b/tests/fixtures.py
index c3883fe7..8f5f0b68 100644
--- a/tests/fixtures.py
+++ b/tests/fixtures.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ def make_app_client(
     sql_time_limit_ms=None,
     max_returned_rows=None,
     cors=False,
+    memory=False,
     config=None,
     filename="fixtures.db",
     is_immutable=False,
@@ -51,6 +52,7 @@ def make_app_client(
         ds = Datasette(
             [] if is_immutable else [filepath],
             immutables=[filepath] if is_immutable else [],
+            memory=memory,
             cors=cors,
             metadata=METADATA,
             plugins_dir=plugins_dir,
@@ -74,6 +76,9 @@ def app_client_no_files():
     client.ds = ds
     yield client
 
+@pytest.fixture(scope="session")
+def app_client_with_memory():
+    yield from make_app_client(memory=True)
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="session")
 def app_client_with_hash():
diff --git a/tests/test_html.py b/tests/test_html.py
index 18e6bb04..1babaa60 100644
--- a/tests/test_html.py
+++ b/tests/test_html.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ from .fixtures import ( # noqa
     app_client,
     app_client_shorter_time_limit,
     app_client_with_hash,
+    app_client_with_memory,
     make_app_client,
 )
 import pytest
@@ -676,12 +677,25 @@ def test_table_metadata(app_client):
     assert_footer_links(soup)
 
 
-def test_allow_download_on(app_client):
-    response = app_client.get(
+def test_database_download(app_client_with_memory):
+    # Regular page should have a download link
+    response = app_client_with_memory.get(
         "/fixtures"
     )
     soup = Soup(response.body, 'html.parser')
     assert len(soup.findAll('a', {'href': re.compile(r'\.db$')}))
+    # Check we can actually download it
+    assert 200 == app_client_with_memory.get(
+        "/fixtures.db",
+    ).status
+    # Memory page should NOT have a download link
+    response2 = app_client_with_memory.get("/:memory:")
+    soup2 = Soup(response2.body, 'html.parser')
+    assert 0 == len(soup2.findAll('a', {'href': re.compile(r'\.db$')}))
+    # The URL itself should 404
+    assert 404 == app_client_with_memory.get(
+        "/:memory:.db",
+    ).status
 
 
 def test_allow_download_off():
@@ -690,14 +704,12 @@ def test_allow_download_off():
     }):
         response = client.get(
             "/fixtures",
-
         )
         soup = Soup(response.body, 'html.parser')
         assert not len(soup.findAll('a', {'href': re.compile(r'\.db$')}))
         # Accessing URL directly should 403
         response = client.get(
             "/fixtures.db",
-
         )
         assert 403 == response.status