diff --git a/Libraries/Image/RCTImageDownloader.m b/Libraries/Image/RCTImageDownloader.m
index 59f1a9ada..115fc10f4 100644
--- a/Libraries/Image/RCTImageDownloader.m
+++ b/Libraries/Image/RCTImageDownloader.m
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ RCT_EXPORT_MODULE()
   if (progressBlock) {
     task.downloadProgressBlock = progressBlock;
   }
+  [task start];
   return ^{ [task cancel]; };
 }
 
diff --git a/Libraries/Network/RCTDownloadTask.h b/Libraries/Network/RCTDownloadTask.h
index a6151a4d0..2cb2a8f0b 100644
--- a/Libraries/Network/RCTDownloadTask.h
+++ b/Libraries/Network/RCTDownloadTask.h
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ typedef void (^RCTURLRequestResponseBlock)(NSURLResponse *response);
                         handler:(id<RCTURLRequestHandler>)handler
                 completionBlock:(RCTURLRequestCompletionBlock)completionBlock NS_DESIGNATED_INITIALIZER;
 
+- (void)start;
 - (void)cancel;
 
 @end
diff --git a/Libraries/Network/RCTDownloadTask.m b/Libraries/Network/RCTDownloadTask.m
index a70c64113..a0492d542 100644
--- a/Libraries/Network/RCTDownloadTask.m
+++ b/Libraries/Network/RCTDownloadTask.m
@@ -29,18 +29,16 @@
   static NSUInteger requestID = 0;
 
   if ((self = [super init])) {
-    if (!(_requestToken = [handler sendRequest:request withDelegate:self])) {
-      return nil;
-    }
     _requestID = @(requestID++);
     _request = request;
     _handler = handler;
     _completionBlock = completionBlock;
-    _selfReference = self;
   }
   return self;
 }
 
+RCT_NOT_IMPLEMENTED(- (instancetype)init)
+
 - (void)invalidate
 {
   _selfReference = nil;
@@ -51,7 +49,15 @@
   _uploadProgressBlock = nil;
 }
 
-RCT_NOT_IMPLEMENTED(- (instancetype)init)
+- (void)start
+{
+  if (_requestToken == nil) {
+    if ([self validateRequestToken:[_handler sendRequest:_request
+                                            withDelegate:self]]) {
+      _selfReference = self;
+    }
+  }
+}
 
 - (void)cancel
 {
@@ -63,6 +69,12 @@ RCT_NOT_IMPLEMENTED(- (instancetype)init)
 
 - (BOOL)validateRequestToken:(id)requestToken
 {
+  if (_requestToken == nil) {
+    if (requestToken == nil) {
+      return NO;
+    }
+    _requestToken = requestToken;
+  }
   if (![requestToken isEqual:_requestToken]) {
     if (RCT_DEBUG) {
       RCTLogError(@"Unrecognized request token: %@ expected: %@", requestToken, _requestToken);
diff --git a/Libraries/Network/RCTNetworking.m b/Libraries/Network/RCTNetworking.m
index 7c3a83bb1..73f9dc57c 100644
--- a/Libraries/Network/RCTNetworking.m
+++ b/Libraries/Network/RCTNetworking.m
@@ -238,6 +238,8 @@ RCT_EXPORT_MODULE()
       cancellationBlock = callback(error, data ? @{@"body": data, @"contentType": RCTNullIfNil(response.MIMEType)} : nil);
     }];
 
+    [task start];
+
     __weak RCTDownloadTask *weakTask = task;
     return ^{
       [weakTask cancel];
@@ -362,6 +364,8 @@ RCT_EXPORT_MODULE()
     _tasksByRequestID[task.requestID] = task;
     responseSender(@[task.requestID]);
   }
+
+  [task start];
 }
 
 #pragma mark - Public API