diff --git a/download_utils.py b/download_utils.py
index 135bb9bd..e9b89e59 100644
--- a/download_utils.py
+++ b/download_utils.py
@@ -26,16 +26,19 @@ def download_file(url, file_path):
             print("Removed incomplete download")
 
 
-def download_from_github(version, fn, target_dir):
+def download_from_github(version, fn, target_dir, force=False):
     url = REPOSITORY_PATH + "/releases/download/{0}/{1}".format(version, fn)
     file_path = os.path.join(target_dir, fn)
+    if os.path.exists(file_path) and not force:
+        print("File {} is already downloaded.".format(file_path))
+        return
     download_file(url, file_path)
 
 
-def sequential_downloader(version, fns, target_dir):
+def sequential_downloader(version, fns, target_dir, force=False):
     os.makedirs(target_dir, exist_ok=True)
     for fn in fns:
-        download_from_github(version, fn, target_dir)
+        download_from_github(version, fn, target_dir, force=force)
 
 
 def link_all_files_from_dir(src_dir, dst_dir):
@@ -54,7 +57,7 @@ def link_resources():
     link_all_files_from_dir("../readonly/dataset/", ".")
 
 
-def download_week1_resources():
+def download_week1_resources(force=False):
     sequential_downloader(
         "week1",
         [
@@ -63,11 +66,12 @@ def download_week1_resources():
             "test.tsv",
             "text_prepare_tests.tsv",
         ],
-        "data"
+        "data",
+        force=force
     )
 
 
-def download_week2_resources():
+def download_week2_resources(force=False):
     sequential_downloader(
         "week2",
         [
@@ -75,5 +79,6 @@ def download_week2_resources():
             "validation.txt",
             "test.txt",
         ],
-        "data"
+        "data",
+        force=force
     )