diff --git a/internal/grpc/services/storageprovider/storageprovider.go b/internal/grpc/services/storageprovider/storageprovider.go
index 950e55f441..5676cf3ef7 100644
--- a/internal/grpc/services/storageprovider/storageprovider.go
+++ b/internal/grpc/services/storageprovider/storageprovider.go
@@ -265,6 +265,10 @@ func (s *service) InitiateFileDownload(ctx context.Context, req *provider.Initia
 	protocol := &provider.FileDownloadProtocol{Expose: s.conf.ExposeDataServer}
 
 	if utils.IsRelativeReference(req.Ref) {
+		// fill in storage provider id if it is missing
+		if req.GetRef().GetResourceId().GetStorageId() == "" {
+			req.GetRef().GetResourceId().StorageId = s.conf.MountID
+		}
 		protocol.Protocol = "spaces"
 		u.Path = path.Join(u.Path, "spaces", storagespace.FormatResourceID(*req.Ref.ResourceId), req.Ref.Path)
 	} else {
diff --git a/pkg/rhttp/datatx/utils/download/download.go b/pkg/rhttp/datatx/utils/download/download.go
index aa34bd73dd..bf9cd76dd6 100644
--- a/pkg/rhttp/datatx/utils/download/download.go
+++ b/pkg/rhttp/datatx/utils/download/download.go
@@ -80,6 +80,11 @@ func GetOrHeadFile(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, fs storage.FS, spaceI
 		return
 	}
 
+	// fill in storage provider id if it is missing
+	if spaceID != "" && md.GetId().GetStorageId() == "" {
+		md.Id.StorageId = ref.ResourceId.StorageId
+	}
+
 	var ranges []HTTPRange
 
 	if r.Header.Get("Range") != "" {