diff --git a/models.py b/models.py
index 20ef978d..773e31a4 100755
--- a/models.py
+++ b/models.py
@@ -302,6 +302,7 @@ def load_darknet_weights(self, weights, cutoff=-1):
             os.system('curl -f ' + url + ' -o ' + weights)
         except IOError:
             print(msg)
+            os.system('rm ' + weights)  # remove partial downloads
     assert os.path.exists(weights), msg  # download missing weights from Google Drive
 
     # Establish cutoffs