diff --git a/src/libsync/propagatedownload.cpp b/src/libsync/propagatedownload.cpp
index d1479b887b..fc49cb01c5 100644
--- a/src/libsync/propagatedownload.cpp
+++ b/src/libsync/propagatedownload.cpp
@@ -352,8 +352,8 @@ void PropagateDownloadFile::start()
         auto fn = propagator()->getFilePath(_item->_file);
         qCDebug(lcPropagateDownload) << "creating placeholder file" << fn;
         QFile file(fn);
-        file.open(QFile::ReadWrite);
-        file.write("stub");
+        file.open(QFile::ReadWrite | QFile::Truncate);
+        file.write(" ");
         file.close();
         updateMetadata(false);
         return;
diff --git a/test/syncenginetestutils.h b/test/syncenginetestutils.h
index f07f93fda4..1a78add5b2 100644
--- a/test/syncenginetestutils.h
+++ b/test/syncenginetestutils.h
@@ -1000,7 +1000,7 @@ private:
                     qWarning() << "Empty file at:" << diskChild.filePath();
                     continue;
                 }
-                char contentChar = f.read(1).at(0);
+                char contentChar = content.at(0);
                 templateFi.children.insert(diskChild.fileName(), FileInfo{diskChild.fileName(), diskChild.size(), contentChar});
             }
         }