diff --git a/picard/const/__init__.py b/picard/const/__init__.py
index 5fdba2c0b..fa52d183e 100644
--- a/picard/const/__init__.py
+++ b/picard/const/__init__.py
@@ -35,7 +35,6 @@ USER_DIR = os.path.join(
 )
 
 USER_PLUGIN_DIR = os.path.join(USER_DIR, "plugins")
-USER_DOWNLOADS_DIR = os.path.join(USER_DIR, "downloads")
 
 # AcoustID client API key
 ACOUSTID_KEY = 'tPrbdkhM'
diff --git a/picard/plugin.py b/picard/plugin.py
index 86edd35ef..63521c1cc 100644
--- a/picard/plugin.py
+++ b/picard/plugin.py
@@ -306,7 +306,8 @@ class PluginManager(QtCore.QObject):
             module_file.close()
         return plugin
 
-    def install_plugin(self, path, overwrite_confirm=None):
+    def install_plugin(self, path, overwrite_confirm=None, plugin_name=None,
+                       plugin_data=None):
         """
             path is either:
                 1) /some/dir/name.py
@@ -314,11 +315,13 @@ class PluginManager(QtCore.QObject):
                 3) /some/dir/name.zip (containing either 1 or 2)
 
         """
-        zip_plugin = is_zip(path)
-        if not zip_plugin:
-            plugin_name = _plugin_name_from_path(path)
-        else:
-            plugin_name = os.path.splitext(zip_plugin)[0]
+        zip_plugin = False
+        if not plugin_name:
+            zip_plugin = is_zip(path)
+            if not zip_plugin:
+                plugin_name = _plugin_name_from_path(path)
+            else:
+                plugin_name = os.path.splitext(zip_plugin)[0]
         if plugin_name:
             try:
                 dirpath = os.path.join(USER_PLUGIN_DIR, plugin_name)
@@ -343,7 +346,20 @@ class PluginManager(QtCore.QObject):
                             for filepath in filepaths:
                                 os.remove(filepath)
                 if not skip:
-                    if os.path.isfile(path):
+                    if plugin_data and plugin_name:
+                        # zipped module from download
+                        zip_plugin = plugin_name + '.zip'
+                        zippath = os.path.join(USER_PLUGIN_DIR, zip_plugin)
+                        try:
+                            with open(zippath, "wb") as zipfile:
+                                zipfile.write(plugin_data)
+                        except:
+                            try:
+                                os.remove(zippath)
+                            except:
+                                pass
+                            raise
+                    elif os.path.isfile(path):
                         shutil.copy2(path, os.path.join(USER_PLUGIN_DIR,
                                                         os.path.basename(path)))
                     elif os.path.isdir(path):
diff --git a/picard/ui/options/plugins.py b/picard/ui/options/plugins.py
index c6eb5c06c..75fa53453 100644
--- a/picard/ui/options/plugins.py
+++ b/picard/ui/options/plugins.py
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ from picard import config, log
 from picard.const import (
     USER_PLUGIN_DIR,
     PLUGINS_API,
-    USER_DOWNLOADS_DIR,
 )
 from picard.plugin import PluginFlags
 from picard.util import encode_filename, webbrowser2
@@ -180,7 +179,10 @@ class PluginsOptionsPage(OptionsPage):
         if files:
             files = map(unicode, files)
             for path in files:
-                self.install_plugin(path)
+                self.tagger.pluginmanager.install_plugin(
+                    path,
+                    overwrite_confirm=self.overwrite_confirm
+                )
 
     def overwrite_confirm(self, name):
         msgbox = QtGui.QMessageBox(self)
@@ -190,10 +192,6 @@ class PluginsOptionsPage(OptionsPage):
         msgbox.setDefaultButton(QtGui.QMessageBox.No)
         return (msgbox.exec_() == QtGui.QMessageBox.Yes)
 
-    def install_plugin(self, path):
-        self.tagger.pluginmanager.install_plugin(path,
-                                                 overwrite_confirm=self.overwrite_confirm)
-
     def download_plugin(self):
         selected = self.ui.plugins.selectedItems()[0]
         plugin = self.items[selected]
@@ -219,13 +217,12 @@ class PluginsOptionsPage(OptionsPage):
             log.error("Error occurred while trying to download the plugin: '%s'" % plugin.module_name)
             return
 
-        if not os.path.exists(USER_DOWNLOADS_DIR):
-            os.makedirs(USER_DOWNLOADS_DIR)
-
-        zippath = os.path.join(USER_DOWNLOADS_DIR, plugin.module_name + ".zip")
-        with open(zippath, "wb") as downloadzip:
-            downloadzip.write(response)
-        self.install_plugin(zippath)
+        self.tagger.pluginmanager.install_plugin(
+            None,
+            overwrite_confirm=self.overwrite_confirm,
+            plugin_name=plugin.module_name,
+            plugin_data=response
+        )
 
     def open_plugin_dir(self):
         QtGui.QDesktopServices.openUrl(QtCore.QUrl(self.loader % USER_PLUGIN_DIR, QtCore.QUrl.TolerantMode))