diff --git a/download_torrent_file.go b/download_torrent_file.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..df869ae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/download_torrent_file.go
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"net/http"
+	"os"
+	"path"
+	"path/filepath"
+
+	"git.milar.in/nyaanime/model"
+)
+
+func DownloadTorrent(animeEp model.AnimeEpisode, torrent *model.ParsedTorrent) error {
+	if err := SetAnimeEpDownloading(animeEp); err != nil {
+		return ErrLockFileCreationFailed.Wrap(err, animeEp.Anime.Title.Romaji, animeEp.Episode)
+	}
+
+	torrentFilePath := filepath.Join(TorrentPath, path.Base(torrent.Torrent.Link))
+
+	fmt.Printf("download: %s -> %s\n", torrent.Torrent.Link, torrentFilePath)
+
+	resp, err := http.Get(torrent.Torrent.Link)
+	if err != nil {
+		return ErrDownloadTorrentFileFailed.Wrap(err, torrent.Torrent.Link)
+	}
+	defer resp.Body.Close()
+
+	file, err := os.Create(torrentFilePath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return ErrSaveTorrentFileFailed.Wrap(err, torrent.Torrent.Link)
+	}
+	defer file.Close()
+
+	_, err = io.Copy(file, resp.Body)
+	if err != nil {
+		return ErrSaveTorrentFileFailed.Wrap(err, torrent.Torrent.Link)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/errors.go b/errors.go
index c39bb05..0af1dc3 100644
--- a/errors.go
+++ b/errors.go
@@ -14,4 +14,8 @@ var (
 	ErrInvalidAnimeStatus        = adverr.NewErrTmpl("ErrInvalidAnimeStatus", "invalid status '%s' in ANIME_STATUS (allowed: %s)")
 	ErrInvalidGlobSyntax         = adverr.NewErrTmpl("ErrInvalidGlobSyntax", "invalid filepath.Glob syntax: '%s'")
 	ErrNoSuitableFileFound       = adverr.NewErrTmpl("ErrNoSuitableFileFound", "no file found with essential properties for anime '%s' and episode %d")
+
+	ErrDownloadTorrentFileFailed = adverr.NewErrTmpl("ErrDownloadTorrentFileFailed", "torrent file download failed: %s")
+	ErrLockFileCreationFailed    = adverr.NewErrTmpl("ErrLockFileCreationFailed", "creation of lock file for anime '%s' and episode %d failed")
+	ErrSaveTorrentFileFailed     = adverr.NewErrTmpl("ErrSaveTorrentFileFailed", "torrent file could not be saved: %s")
 )
diff --git a/local_file_check.go b/local_file_check.go
index 2feaa45..7fa0f15 100644
--- a/local_file_check.go
+++ b/local_file_check.go
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 package main
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
+	"errors"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
@@ -27,11 +27,11 @@ func GetAnimeEpFilepath(animeEp model.AnimeEpisode, ext string) string {
 	if err := AnimeEpFilepathPattern.Execute(b, tmplData); err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
-	return b.String()
+	return filepath.Join(AnimePath, b.String())
 }
 
 func AnimeEpExistsLocally(animeEp model.AnimeEpisode) bool {
-	animeEpPath := filepath.Join(AnimePath, GetAnimeEpFilepath(animeEp, "*"))
+	animeEpPath := GetAnimeEpFilepath(animeEp, "*")
 
 	files, err := filepath.Glob(animeEpPath)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ func AnimeEpExistsLocally(animeEp model.AnimeEpisode) bool {
 }
 
 func GetLocalAnimeEpProperties(animeEp model.AnimeEpisode) (*FilePriority, bool, error) {
-	animeEpPath := filepath.Join(AnimePath, GetAnimeEpFilepath(animeEp, "*"))
+	animeEpPath := GetAnimeEpFilepath(animeEp, "*")
 	files, err := filepath.Glob(animeEpPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, false, ErrInvalidGlobSyntax.Wrap(err, animeEpPath)
@@ -70,18 +70,17 @@ func GetLocalAnimeEpProperties(animeEp model.AnimeEpisode) (*FilePriority, bool,
 	return mostPrio, mostPrio != nil, nil
 }
 
-// TODO cache?
-func TorrentFileDownloading(torrent *model.ParsedTorrent) bool {
-	torrentFile := filepath.Join(TorrentPath, fmt.Sprintf("%s.torrent", torrent.Torrent.ID))
-
-	if _, err := os.Stat(torrentFile); err == nil {
-		return true
-	}
-
-	addedTorrentFile := filepath.Join(TorrentPath, fmt.Sprintf("%s.torrent.added", torrent.Torrent.ID))
-	if _, err := os.Stat(addedTorrentFile); err == nil {
-		return true
-	}
-
-	return false
+func IsAnimeEpDownloading(animeEp model.AnimeEpisode) bool {
+	animeEpPath := GetAnimeEpFilepath(animeEp, "lock")
+	_, err := os.Stat(animeEpPath)
+	return !errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist)
+}
+
+func SetAnimeEpDownloading(animeEp model.AnimeEpisode) error {
+	animeEpPath := GetAnimeEpFilepath(animeEp, "lock")
+	file, err := os.Create(animeEpPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		defer file.Close()
+	}
+	return err
 }
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index d757bb7..323bbfe 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ func main() {
 	fmt.Println("subtitle priorites:", Map2Str(PreferredSubtitles))
 	fmt.Println("resolution priorites:", Map2Str(PreferredResolutions))
 
+	// TODO ugly code (see issue nyaanime/downloader#1)
 	if len(AnimeStatus) == 0 {
 		AnimeStatus = []anilist.MediaListStatus{
 			anilist.MediaListStatusCurrent,
@@ -122,7 +123,9 @@ func checkTorrents() {
 		}
 
 		for _, torrentPriority := range torrentPriorities {
-			if TorrentFileDownloading(torrentPriority.ParsedTorrent) {
+			torrent := torrentPriority.ParsedTorrent
+
+			if IsAnimeEpDownloading(animeEp) {
 				fmt.Printf("%s | CURRENTLY DOWNLOADING\n", FormatTorrentPriority(torrentPriority))
 				continue
 			}
@@ -132,19 +135,19 @@ func checkTorrents() {
 					fmt.Printf("%s | LOWER PRIORITY\n", FormatTorrentPriority(torrentPriority))
 				} else {
 					fmt.Printf("%s | HIGHER PRIORITY | STARTING DOWNLOAD\n", FormatTorrentPriority(torrentPriority))
-					// TODO start download
+					if err := DownloadTorrent(animeEp, torrent); err != nil {
+						panic(err)
+					}
 				}
 			} else {
 				fmt.Printf("%s | NOT IN COLLECTION | STARTING DOWNLOAD\n", FormatTorrentPriority(torrentPriority))
-				// TODO start download
+				if err := DownloadTorrent(animeEp, torrent); err != nil {
+					panic(err)
+				}
 			}
-
-			// TODO download anime episode with highest priority (first one in slice)
 		}
 	}
 
-	// TODO store preferred properties of downloaded torrents in db
-
 	duration := time.Since(start)
 	fmt.Printf("\ncheck took %s. sleeping for %s\n", duration.Truncate(time.Millisecond), (PollRate - duration).Truncate(time.Millisecond))
 }