diff --git a/weed/filer/reader_cache.go b/weed/filer/reader_cache.go
index cd6049beea..ccf9512dfc 100644
--- a/weed/filer/reader_cache.go
+++ b/weed/filer/reader_cache.go
@@ -49,6 +49,9 @@ type SingleChunkCacher struct {
 	wg             sync.WaitGroup
 	cacheStartedCh chan struct{}
 	done           chan struct{} // signals when download is complete
+	// ctx is cancelled once no reader can use the download, or when it ends
+	ctx    context.Context
+	cancel context.CancelFunc
 }
 
 func NewReaderCache(limit int, chunkCache chunk_cache.ChunkCache, lookupFileIdFn wdclient.LookupFileIdFunctionType, cacheInvalidator CacheInvalidator, budgets ...*ReaderCacheBudget) *ReaderCache {
@@ -392,12 +395,18 @@ func (rc *ReaderCache) removeConsumed(downloader *SingleChunkCacher) {
 	}
 }
 
+// removeConsumedLocked also cancels a running download, as no reader can attach to it any more,
+// including one destroy already dropped from the map.
 func (rc *ReaderCache) removeConsumedLocked(downloader *SingleChunkCacher) (removed bool) {
-	if rc.downloaders[downloader.chunkFileId] == downloader && downloader.consumable() {
-		delete(rc.downloaders, downloader.chunkFileId)
-		return true
+	if !downloader.consumable() {
+		return false
 	}
-	return false
+	downloader.cancel()
+	if rc.downloaders[downloader.chunkFileId] != downloader {
+		return false
+	}
+	delete(rc.downloaders, downloader.chunkFileId)
+	return true
 }
 
 func (rc *ReaderCache) destroy() {
@@ -405,13 +414,24 @@ func (rc *ReaderCache) destroy() {
 	downloaders := rc.downloaders
 	rc.downloaders = make(map[string]*SingleChunkCacher)
 	rc.Unlock()
+	// out of the map no stream can come back to a download, so it is cancelled
+	// now or once its last reader or stream leaves
+	for _, downloader := range downloaders {
+		atomic.StoreInt32(&downloader.left, 1)
+		if downloader.consumable() {
+			downloader.cancel()
+		}
+	}
 	for _, downloader := range downloaders {
 		downloader.destroy()
 	}
 }
 
 func newSingleChunkCacher(parent *ReaderCache, fileId string, cipherKey []byte, isGzipped bool, chunkSize int, shouldCache bool) *SingleChunkCacher {
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
 	return &SingleChunkCacher{
+		ctx:            ctx,
+		cancel:         cancel,
 		parent:         parent,
 		chunkFileId:    fileId,
 		cipherKey:      cipherKey,
@@ -428,6 +448,7 @@ func newSingleChunkCacher(parent *ReaderCache, fileId string, cipherKey []byte,
 // downloaders map, so a removal can never observe the fetch as absent.
 func (s *SingleChunkCacher) startCaching() {
 	defer func() {
+		s.cancel()
 		close(s.done)
 		s.wg.Done()
 		if s.hasCompletedError() {
@@ -443,13 +464,7 @@ func (s *SingleChunkCacher) startCaching() {
 		return
 	}
 
-	// Intentionally use context.Background(), not a request-specific context.
-	// The downloaded chunk is a shared resource: multiple concurrent readers may
-	// wait on this same download via s.done. A request-scoped context that got
-	// cancelled would abort the download and error every other waiting reader.
-	// The download always runs to completion once started; readers that cancel
-	// individually drop out via readChunkAt's select on ctx.Done().
-	urlStrings, err := s.parent.lookupFileIdFn(context.Background(), s.chunkFileId)
+	urlStrings, err := s.lookupFileId(s.ctx, s.chunkFileId)
 	if err != nil {
 		s.setError(fmt.Errorf("operation LookupFileId %s failed, err: %v", s.chunkFileId, err))
 		return
@@ -459,9 +474,16 @@ func (s *SingleChunkCacher) startCaching() {
 		return
 	}
 
-	data, fetchErr := s.fetchChunkData(context.Background(), urlStrings)
+	// not a request's context: other readers may wait on this download via s.done
+	// and it is cancelled only when removeConsumedLocked drops the cacher
+	data, fetchErr := s.fetchChunkData(s.ctx, urlStrings)
 	if fetchErr != nil {
-		data, fetchErr = s.retryFetchAfterCacheInvalidation(context.Background(), urlStrings, fetchErr)
+		data, fetchErr = s.retryFetchAfterCacheInvalidation(s.ctx, urlStrings, fetchErr)
+	}
+	// a cancelled fetch can return a partly filled buffer without an error
+	if fetchErr == nil && s.ctx.Err() != nil {
+		mem.Free(data)
+		data, fetchErr = nil, s.ctx.Err()
 	}
 
 	// Now acquire lock to update state
@@ -498,7 +520,7 @@ func (s *SingleChunkCacher) fetchChunkData(ctx context.Context, urlStrings []str
 	// Allocate buffer and download without holding the lock.
 	// This allows multiple downloads to proceed in parallel.
 	data := mem.Allocate(s.chunkSize)
-	_, fetchErr := s.parent.fetchChunkDataFn(ctx, data, urlStrings, s.cipherKey, s.isGzipped, true, 0, s.chunkFileId, refreshUrls(ctx, s.parent.cacheInvalidator, s.parent.lookupFileIdFn, s.chunkFileId))
+	_, fetchErr := s.parent.fetchChunkDataFn(ctx, data, urlStrings, s.cipherKey, s.isGzipped, true, 0, s.chunkFileId, refreshUrls(ctx, s.parent.cacheInvalidator, s.lookupFileId, s.chunkFileId))
 	if fetchErr != nil {
 		mem.Free(data)
 		return nil, fetchErr
@@ -508,7 +530,7 @@ func (s *SingleChunkCacher) fetchChunkData(ctx context.Context, urlStrings []str
 
 func (s *SingleChunkCacher) retryFetchAfterCacheInvalidation(ctx context.Context, oldUrlStrings []string, originalErr error) ([]byte, error) {
 	var data []byte
-	err := retryFetchWithFreshLocations(ctx, s.parent.cacheInvalidator, s.parent.lookupFileIdFn, s.chunkFileId, oldUrlStrings, originalErr, func(newUrls []string) error {
+	err := retryFetchWithFreshLocations(ctx, s.parent.cacheInvalidator, s.lookupFileId, s.chunkFileId, oldUrlStrings, originalErr, func(newUrls []string) error {
 		var fetchErr error
 		data, fetchErr = s.fetchChunkData(ctx, newUrls)
 		return fetchErr
@@ -519,6 +541,12 @@ func (s *SingleChunkCacher) retryFetchAfterCacheInvalidation(ctx context.Context
 	return data, nil
 }
 
+// lookupFileId ignores the download's context: FilerClient coalesces concurrent
+// lookups of a volume, so a cancelled download must not fail other readers' lookups.
+func (s *SingleChunkCacher) lookupFileId(_ context.Context, fileId string) ([]string, error) {
+	return s.parent.lookupFileIdFn(context.Background(), fileId)
+}
+
 func (s *SingleChunkCacher) destroy() {
 	// wait for all reads to finish before destroying the data
 	s.wg.Wait()
@@ -533,8 +561,8 @@ func (s *SingleChunkCacher) destroy() {
 
 // readChunkAt reads data from the cached chunk.
 // It waits for the download to complete if it's still in progress.
-// The ctx parameter allows the reader to cancel its wait (but the download continues
-// for other readers - see comment in startCaching about shared resource semantics).
+// The ctx parameter allows the reader to cancel its wait; the download continues
+// for the other readers and streams that still wait on it.
 // The caller must s.wg.Add(1) under the ReaderCache lock before calling; this only releases it.
 func (s *SingleChunkCacher) readChunkAt(ctx context.Context, buf []byte, offset int64) (n int, err error) {
 	defer func() {
diff --git a/weed/filer/reader_cache_budget.go b/weed/filer/reader_cache_budget.go
index b048e26d99..17f4fd78c1 100644
--- a/weed/filer/reader_cache_budget.go
+++ b/weed/filer/reader_cache_budget.go
@@ -45,6 +45,11 @@ func (b *ReaderCacheBudget) reserve(s *SingleChunkCacher) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("chunk buffer needs %d bytes, exceeding reader cache budget %d; increase the readerCacheSizeMB budget", size, b.limit)
 	}
 	for {
+		// a cancelled download must not evict a chunk for itself
+		if err := s.ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
 		b.Lock()
 		if size <= b.limit-b.used {
 			b.used += size
@@ -89,7 +94,11 @@ func (b *ReaderCacheBudget) reserve(s *SingleChunkCacher) error {
 		}
 		changed := b.changed
 		b.Unlock()
-		<-changed
+		select {
+		case <-changed:
+		case <-s.ctx.Done():
+			return s.ctx.Err()
+		}
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/weed/filer/reader_cache_memory_test.go b/weed/filer/reader_cache_memory_test.go
index da73c7a2ea..d9c11f9cb2 100644
--- a/weed/filer/reader_cache_memory_test.go
+++ b/weed/filer/reader_cache_memory_test.go
@@ -428,3 +428,60 @@ func TestReaderCacheReReadAfterEviction(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("fetchCount=%d, want 3 (a, b, a-re-read)", got)
 	}
 }
+
+// A download still waiting for budget is cancelled when its last stream leaves.
+func TestReaderCacheBudgetWaitStopsWithItsLastStream(t *testing.T) {
+	budget := NewReaderCacheBudget(4 << 10)
+	var lookups sync.Map
+	rc := NewReaderCache(256, newMockChunkCacheForReaderCache(), func(_ context.Context, fileId string) ([]string, error) {
+		lookups.Store(fileId, true)
+		return []string{"unused"}, nil
+	}, nil, budget)
+	defer rc.destroy()
+
+	holding := make(chan struct{})
+	var holdingOnce sync.Once
+	finish := make(chan struct{})
+	rc.fetchChunkDataFn = func(ctx context.Context, buffer []byte, _ []string, _ []byte, _ bool, _ bool, _ int64, _ string, _ util_http.RefreshUrlsFunc) (int, error) {
+		holdingOnce.Do(func() { close(holding) })
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			return 0, ctx.Err()
+		case <-finish:
+			return len(buffer), nil
+		}
+	}
+	defer close(finish)
+
+	// "a" takes the whole budget and its download does not finish
+	go rc.ReadChunkAt(context.Background(), make([]byte, 1), "a", nil, false, 0, 3<<10, false)
+	<-holding
+
+	var stream chunkStream
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	readDone := make(chan error, 1)
+	go func() {
+		_, err := rc.readChunkAt(ctx, &stream, make([]byte, 1), "b", nil, true, 0, 3<<10, false)
+		readDone <- err
+	}()
+	time.Sleep(50 * time.Millisecond)
+	if _, looked := lookups.Load("b"); looked {
+		t.Fatal(`"b" did not wait for budget`)
+	}
+
+	cancel()
+	if err := <-readDone; err != context.Canceled {
+		t.Fatalf("cancelled read: got %v, want context.Canceled", err)
+	}
+
+	released := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		rc.releaseStream(&stream)
+		close(released)
+	}()
+	select {
+	case <-released:
+	case <-time.After(2 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("releasing the stream waited for budget nobody needs")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/weed/filer/reader_cache_test.go b/weed/filer/reader_cache_test.go
index faf184f878..844f3f8eb7 100644
--- a/weed/filer/reader_cache_test.go
+++ b/weed/filer/reader_cache_test.go
@@ -773,3 +773,406 @@ func TestReaderCacheBookkeepingOffCacheLock(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	rc.Unlock()
 }
+
+// Releasing the last stream of an unfinished download cancels it without waiting for it.
+func TestAbandonedChunkDownloadStopsWithItsLastStream(t *testing.T) {
+	lookupFn := func(ctx context.Context, fileId string) ([]string, error) {
+		return []string{"http://volume/" + fileId}, nil
+	}
+	rc := NewReaderCache(10, newMockChunkCacheForReaderCache(), lookupFn, nil)
+	defer rc.destroy()
+
+	fetchStarted := make(chan struct{})
+	fetchEnded := make(chan error, 1)
+	rc.fetchChunkDataFn = func(ctx context.Context, buffer []byte, urlStrings []string, cipherKey []byte, isGzipped bool, isFullChunk bool, offset int64, fileId string, refreshUrls util_http.RefreshUrlsFunc) (int, error) {
+		close(fetchStarted)
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			fetchEnded <- ctx.Err()
+			return 0, ctx.Err()
+		case <-time.After(10 * time.Second):
+			fetchEnded <- nil
+			return 0, fmt.Errorf("volume server never answered")
+		}
+	}
+
+	// a gzipped chunk is read through the shared whole-chunk download
+	var stream chunkStream
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	readDone := make(chan error, 1)
+	go func() {
+		_, err := rc.readChunkAt(ctx, &stream, make([]byte, 100), "3077,02c3475d67aaf564", nil, true, 0, 4<<20, false)
+		readDone <- err
+	}()
+
+	<-fetchStarted
+	cancel()
+	if err := <-readDone; err != context.Canceled {
+		t.Fatalf("cancelled read: got %v, want context.Canceled", err)
+	}
+
+	released := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		rc.releaseStream(&stream)
+		close(released)
+	}()
+
+	select {
+	case <-released:
+	case <-time.After(2 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("releasing the stream waited for a download nobody wants")
+	}
+
+	select {
+	case err := <-fetchEnded:
+		if err != context.Canceled {
+			t.Fatalf("abandoned download: got %v, want context.Canceled", err)
+		}
+	case <-time.After(2 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("the abandoned download kept running")
+	}
+}
+
+// One stream leaving a shared download must not cancel it for another stream.
+func TestAbandonedChunkDownloadKeepsRunningForOtherStream(t *testing.T) {
+	content := []byte("gzipped chunk 01")
+	fileId := "3077,02c3475d67aaf564"
+	lookupFn := func(ctx context.Context, fileId string) ([]string, error) {
+		return []string{"http://volume/" + fileId}, nil
+	}
+	rc := NewReaderCache(10, newMockChunkCacheForReaderCache(), lookupFn, nil)
+	defer rc.destroy()
+
+	fetchStarted := make(chan struct{})
+	finishFetch := make(chan struct{})
+	rc.fetchChunkDataFn = func(ctx context.Context, buffer []byte, urlStrings []string, cipherKey []byte, isGzipped bool, isFullChunk bool, offset int64, fileId string, refreshUrls util_http.RefreshUrlsFunc) (int, error) {
+		close(fetchStarted)
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			return 0, ctx.Err()
+		case <-finishFetch:
+			return copy(buffer, content), nil
+		}
+	}
+
+	read := func(ctx context.Context, stream *chunkStream, done chan<- error, buffer []byte) {
+		_, err := rc.readChunkAt(ctx, stream, buffer, fileId, nil, true, 0, len(content), false)
+		done <- err
+	}
+
+	var leaving, staying chunkStream
+	leavingCtx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	leavingDone, stayingDone := make(chan error, 1), make(chan error, 1)
+	stayingBuffer := make([]byte, len(content))
+	go read(leavingCtx, &leaving, leavingDone, make([]byte, len(content)))
+	<-fetchStarted
+	go read(context.Background(), &staying, stayingDone, stayingBuffer)
+
+	// wait until the second stream is attached to the same download
+	deadline := time.Now().Add(2 * time.Second)
+	for {
+		rc.RLock()
+		cacher := rc.downloaders[fileId]
+		rc.RUnlock()
+		if cacher != nil && atomic.LoadInt32(&cacher.pins) == 2 {
+			break
+		}
+		if time.Now().After(deadline) {
+			t.Fatal("second stream never attached to the download")
+		}
+		time.Sleep(time.Millisecond)
+	}
+
+	cancel()
+	if err := <-leavingDone; err != context.Canceled {
+		t.Fatalf("cancelled read: got %v, want context.Canceled", err)
+	}
+	rc.releaseStream(&leaving)
+
+	close(finishFetch)
+	select {
+	case err := <-stayingDone:
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("staying stream: got %v, want the chunk", err)
+		}
+		if string(stayingBuffer) != string(content) {
+			t.Fatalf("staying stream read %q, want %q", stayingBuffer, content)
+		}
+	case <-time.After(2 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("staying stream never got its data")
+	}
+	rc.releaseStream(&staying)
+}
+
+func TestAbandonedChunkDownloadKeepsRunningForWaitingReader(t *testing.T) {
+	content := []byte("gzipped chunk 01")
+	fileId := "3077,02c3475d67aaf564"
+	lookupFn := func(ctx context.Context, fileId string) ([]string, error) {
+		return []string{"http://volume/" + fileId}, nil
+	}
+	rc := NewReaderCache(10, newMockChunkCacheForReaderCache(), lookupFn, nil)
+	defer rc.destroy()
+
+	fetchStarted := make(chan struct{})
+	finishFetch := make(chan struct{})
+	rc.fetchChunkDataFn = func(ctx context.Context, buffer []byte, urlStrings []string, cipherKey []byte, isGzipped bool, isFullChunk bool, offset int64, fileId string, refreshUrls util_http.RefreshUrlsFunc) (int, error) {
+		close(fetchStarted)
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			return 0, ctx.Err()
+		case <-finishFetch:
+			return copy(buffer, content), nil
+		}
+	}
+
+	var leaving chunkStream
+	leavingCtx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	leavingDone, waitingDone := make(chan error, 1), make(chan error, 1)
+	go func() {
+		_, err := rc.readChunkAt(leavingCtx, &leaving, make([]byte, len(content)), fileId, nil, true, 0, len(content), false)
+		leavingDone <- err
+	}()
+	<-fetchStarted
+	waitingBuffer := make([]byte, len(content))
+	go func() {
+		_, err := rc.ReadChunkAt(context.Background(), waitingBuffer, fileId, nil, true, 0, len(content), false)
+		waitingDone <- err
+	}()
+
+	deadline := time.Now().Add(2 * time.Second)
+	for {
+		rc.RLock()
+		cacher := rc.downloaders[fileId]
+		rc.RUnlock()
+		if cacher != nil && atomic.LoadInt32(&cacher.readers) == 2 {
+			break
+		}
+		if time.Now().After(deadline) {
+			t.Fatal("waiting reader never attached to the download")
+		}
+		time.Sleep(time.Millisecond)
+	}
+
+	cancel()
+	if err := <-leavingDone; err != context.Canceled {
+		t.Fatalf("cancelled read: got %v, want context.Canceled", err)
+	}
+	rc.releaseStream(&leaving)
+
+	close(finishFetch)
+	select {
+	case err := <-waitingDone:
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("waiting reader: got %v, want the chunk", err)
+		}
+		if string(waitingBuffer) != string(content) {
+			t.Fatalf("waiting reader read %q, want %q", waitingBuffer, content)
+		}
+	case <-time.After(2 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("waiting reader never got its data")
+	}
+}
+
+// A download cancelled mid-copy must not cache the partly filled buffer.
+func TestAbandonedChunkDownloadIsNotCached(t *testing.T) {
+	fileId := "3077,02c3475d67aaf564"
+	lookupFn := func(ctx context.Context, fileId string) ([]string, error) {
+		return []string{"http://volume/" + fileId}, nil
+	}
+	cache := newMockChunkCacheForReaderCache()
+	rc := NewReaderCache(10, cache, lookupFn, nil)
+	defer rc.destroy()
+
+	fetchStarted := make(chan struct{})
+	rc.fetchChunkDataFn = func(ctx context.Context, buffer []byte, urlStrings []string, cipherKey []byte, isGzipped bool, isFullChunk bool, offset int64, fileId string, refreshUrls util_http.RefreshUrlsFunc) (int, error) {
+		close(fetchStarted)
+		<-ctx.Done()
+		// like readEncryptedUrl: the body was read, the copy was skipped, no error
+		return 0, nil
+	}
+
+	var stream chunkStream
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	readDone := make(chan error, 1)
+	go func() {
+		_, err := rc.readChunkAt(ctx, &stream, make([]byte, 100), fileId, nil, true, 0, 100, true)
+		readDone <- err
+	}()
+
+	<-fetchStarted
+	cancel()
+	if err := <-readDone; err != context.Canceled {
+		t.Fatalf("cancelled read: got %v, want context.Canceled", err)
+	}
+	rc.releaseStream(&stream)
+
+	cache.mu.Lock()
+	defer cache.mu.Unlock()
+	if _, cached := cache.data[fileId]; cached {
+		t.Fatal("the partly filled buffer of a cancelled download was cached")
+	}
+}
+
+// Other readers can join a re-lookup through FilerClient, so cancelling the download must not cancel it.
+func TestAbandonedChunkDownloadKeepsItsRelookupAlive(t *testing.T) {
+	fileId := "3077,02c3475d67aaf564"
+	var lookups int32
+	relookupStarted := make(chan struct{})
+	downloadCancelled := make(chan struct{})
+	relookupErr := make(chan error, 1)
+	lookupFn := func(ctx context.Context, fileId string) ([]string, error) {
+		if atomic.AddInt32(&lookups, 1) > 1 {
+			close(relookupStarted)
+			<-downloadCancelled
+			relookupErr <- ctx.Err()
+		}
+		return []string{"http://volume/" + fileId}, nil
+	}
+	rc := NewReaderCache(10, newMockChunkCacheForReaderCache(), lookupFn, &mockCacheInvalidatorForReaderCache{})
+	defer rc.destroy()
+	rc.fetchChunkDataFn = func(ctx context.Context, buffer []byte, urlStrings []string, cipherKey []byte, isGzipped bool, isFullChunk bool, offset int64, fileId string, refreshUrls util_http.RefreshUrlsFunc) (int, error) {
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("connection reset by peer")
+	}
+
+	var stream chunkStream
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	readDone := make(chan error, 1)
+	go func() {
+		_, err := rc.readChunkAt(ctx, &stream, make([]byte, 100), fileId, nil, true, 0, 100, false)
+		readDone <- err
+	}()
+
+	<-relookupStarted
+	cancel()
+	if err := <-readDone; err != context.Canceled {
+		t.Fatalf("cancelled read: got %v, want context.Canceled", err)
+	}
+	released := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		rc.releaseStream(&stream)
+		close(released)
+	}()
+	// the cacher leaves the map under the same lock that cancels it
+	deadline := time.Now().Add(2 * time.Second)
+	for {
+		rc.RLock()
+		_, found := rc.downloaders[fileId]
+		rc.RUnlock()
+		if !found {
+			break
+		}
+		if time.Now().After(deadline) {
+			t.Fatal("releasing the last stream never dropped the download")
+		}
+		time.Sleep(time.Millisecond)
+	}
+	close(downloadCancelled)
+
+	if err := <-relookupErr; err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("re-lookup context: got %v, want it independent of the download", err)
+	}
+	select {
+	case <-released:
+	case <-time.After(2 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("releasing the stream never returned")
+	}
+}
+
+// Closing the reader cache cancels a stalled prefetch nobody reads instead of waiting for it.
+func TestReaderCacheDestroyCancelsUnreadPrefetch(t *testing.T) {
+	lookupFn := func(ctx context.Context, fileId string) ([]string, error) {
+		return []string{"http://volume/" + fileId}, nil
+	}
+	rc := NewReaderCache(10, newMockChunkCacheForReaderCache(), lookupFn, nil)
+	fetchStarted := make(chan struct{})
+	rc.fetchChunkDataFn = func(ctx context.Context, buffer []byte, urlStrings []string, cipherKey []byte, isGzipped bool, isFullChunk bool, offset int64, fileId string, refreshUrls util_http.RefreshUrlsFunc) (int, error) {
+		close(fetchStarted)
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			return 0, ctx.Err()
+		case <-time.After(10 * time.Second):
+			return 0, fmt.Errorf("volume server never answered")
+		}
+	}
+	rc.MaybeCache(&Interval[*ChunkView]{Value: &ChunkView{FileId: "3077,02c3475d67aaf564", ViewSize: 1024, ChunkSize: 1024}}, 1)
+	<-fetchStarted
+
+	destroyed := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		rc.destroy()
+		close(destroyed)
+	}()
+	select {
+	case <-destroyed:
+	case <-time.After(2 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("destroy waited for a prefetch nobody reads")
+	}
+}
+
+// A download destroy dropped while a stream still held it is cancelled once that stream leaves.
+func TestReaderCacheDestroyCancelsDownloadAfterItsLastStream(t *testing.T) {
+	lookupFn := func(ctx context.Context, fileId string) ([]string, error) {
+		return []string{"http://volume/" + fileId}, nil
+	}
+	rc := NewReaderCache(10, newMockChunkCacheForReaderCache(), lookupFn, nil)
+	fetchStarted := make(chan struct{})
+	fetchEnded := make(chan error, 1)
+	rc.fetchChunkDataFn = func(ctx context.Context, buffer []byte, urlStrings []string, cipherKey []byte, isGzipped bool, isFullChunk bool, offset int64, fileId string, refreshUrls util_http.RefreshUrlsFunc) (int, error) {
+		close(fetchStarted)
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			fetchEnded <- ctx.Err()
+			return 0, ctx.Err()
+		case <-time.After(10 * time.Second):
+			fetchEnded <- nil
+			return 0, fmt.Errorf("volume server never answered")
+		}
+	}
+
+	var stream chunkStream
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	readDone := make(chan error, 1)
+	go func() {
+		_, err := rc.readChunkAt(ctx, &stream, make([]byte, 100), "3077,02c3475d67aaf564", nil, true, 0, 4<<20, false)
+		readDone <- err
+	}()
+	<-fetchStarted
+	cancel()
+	if err := <-readDone; err != context.Canceled {
+		t.Fatalf("cancelled read: got %v, want context.Canceled", err)
+	}
+
+	destroyed := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		rc.destroy()
+		close(destroyed)
+	}()
+	deadline := time.Now().Add(2 * time.Second)
+	for {
+		rc.RLock()
+		mapped := len(rc.downloaders)
+		rc.RUnlock()
+		if mapped == 0 {
+			break
+		}
+		if time.Now().After(deadline) {
+			t.Fatal("destroy never dropped the download from the map")
+		}
+		time.Sleep(time.Millisecond)
+	}
+	select {
+	case err := <-fetchEnded:
+		t.Fatalf("destroy cancelled a download a stream still holds: %v", err)
+	case <-time.After(50 * time.Millisecond):
+	}
+
+	rc.releaseStream(&stream)
+	select {
+	case <-destroyed:
+	case <-time.After(2 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("destroy kept waiting for a download its last stream left")
+	}
+	if err := <-fetchEnded; err != context.Canceled {
+		t.Fatalf("orphaned download: got %v, want context.Canceled", err)
+	}
+}