diff --git a/src/contentmanager.cpp b/src/contentmanager.cpp
index 1068656..c9c921f 100644
--- a/src/contentmanager.cpp
+++ b/src/contentmanager.cpp
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ ContentManager::ContentManager(Library* library, kiwix::Downloader* downloader)
     connect(this, &DownloadManager::downloadDisappeared,
             this, &ContentManager::downloadDisappeared);
 
-    if ( mp_downloader ) {
+    if ( DownloadManager::downloadingFunctionalityAvailable() ) {
         startDownloadUpdaterThread();
     }
 }
@@ -605,7 +605,7 @@ std::string ContentManager::startDownload(const kiwix::Book& book)
 
 void ContentManager::downloadBook(const QString &id)
 {
-    if (!mp_downloader)
+    if ( ! DownloadManager::downloadingFunctionalityAvailable() )
         throwDownloadUnavailableError();
 
     const auto& book = getRemoteOrLocalBook(id);
diff --git a/src/downloadmanagement.cpp b/src/downloadmanagement.cpp
index 32112c9..63ae5bd 100644
--- a/src/downloadmanagement.cpp
+++ b/src/downloadmanagement.cpp
@@ -56,6 +56,11 @@ DownloadManager::~DownloadManager()
     }
 }
 
+bool DownloadManager::downloadingFunctionalityAvailable() const
+{
+    return mp_downloader != nullptr;
+}
+
 void DownloadManager::startDownloadUpdaterThread()
 {
     // so that DownloadInfo can be copied across threads
diff --git a/src/downloadmanagement.h b/src/downloadmanagement.h
index 5ff95d7..f273df3 100644
--- a/src/downloadmanagement.h
+++ b/src/downloadmanagement.h
@@ -72,6 +72,8 @@ public: // functions
     DownloadManager(const Library* lib, kiwix::Downloader *downloader);
     virtual ~DownloadManager();
 
+    bool downloadingFunctionalityAvailable() const;
+
     void startDownloadUpdaterThread();
 
     DownloadInfo getDownloadInfo(QString bookId) const;
@@ -94,11 +96,9 @@ signals:
     void downloadUpdated(QString bookId, const DownloadInfo& );
     void downloadDisappeared(QString bookId);
 
-protected: // data
+private: // data
     const Library* const     mp_library;
     kiwix::Downloader* const mp_downloader;
-
-private:
     Downloads                m_downloads;
     QThread*                 mp_downloadUpdaterThread = nullptr;
 };