diff --git a/packages/rendermime-extension/src/index.ts b/packages/rendermime-extension/src/index.ts
index 3796135852c9..da0ef53ad9f5 100644
--- a/packages/rendermime-extension/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/rendermime-extension/src/index.ts
@@ -80,6 +80,11 @@ function activate(
       ? null
       : {
           handleLink: (node: HTMLElement, path: string, id?: string) => {
+            // If node has the download attribute explicitly set, use the
+            // default browser downloading behavior.
+            if (node.tagName === 'A' && node.hasAttribute('download')) {
+              return;
+            }
             app.commandLinker.connectNode(node, CommandIDs.handleLink, {
               path,
               id
diff --git a/packages/rendermime-interfaces/src/index.ts b/packages/rendermime-interfaces/src/index.ts
index a9844ebbefdf..43dd2f094115 100644
--- a/packages/rendermime-interfaces/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/rendermime-interfaces/src/index.ts
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ export namespace IRenderMime {
     /**
      * Add the link handler to the node.
      *
-     * @param node: the node for which to handle the link.
+     * @param node: the anchor node for which to handle the link.
      *
      * @param path: the path to open when the link is clicked.
      *