diff --git a/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/mms/MmsCommunication.java b/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/mms/MmsCommunication.java
index b629e383a1..1ca2ae9253 100644
--- a/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/mms/MmsCommunication.java
+++ b/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/mms/MmsCommunication.java
@@ -180,6 +180,7 @@ public class MmsCommunication {
       urlConnection = (HttpURLConnection) url.openConnection();
     }
 
+    urlConnection.setInstanceFollowRedirects(true);
     urlConnection.setConnectTimeout(20*1000);
     urlConnection.setReadTimeout(20*1000);
     urlConnection.setUseCaches(false);
diff --git a/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/mms/MmsDownloadHelper.java b/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/mms/MmsDownloadHelper.java
index ba3b80781d..800fb7aefd 100644
--- a/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/mms/MmsDownloadHelper.java
+++ b/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/mms/MmsDownloadHelper.java
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import android.net.Uri;
 import android.util.Log;
 
 import java.io.IOException;
+import java.io.InputStream;
 import java.net.HttpURLConnection;
 import java.util.Arrays;
 
@@ -45,7 +46,8 @@ public class MmsDownloadHelper extends MmsCommunication {
       Log.w(TAG, "Connecting to " + url);
       client.connect();
 
-      int responseCode = client.getResponseCode();
+      final InputStream is           = client.getInputStream();
+      final int         responseCode = client.getResponseCode();
 
       Log.w(TAG, "Response code: " + responseCode + "/" + client.getResponseMessage());
 
@@ -53,7 +55,7 @@ public class MmsDownloadHelper extends MmsCommunication {
         throw new IOException("non-200 response");
       }
 
-      return parseResponse(client.getInputStream());
+      return parseResponse(is);
     } finally {
       if (client != null) client.disconnect();
     }
diff --git a/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/mms/MmsSendHelper.java b/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/mms/MmsSendHelper.java
index 397553c01a..eeb78ad8c1 100644
--- a/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/mms/MmsSendHelper.java
+++ b/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/mms/MmsSendHelper.java
@@ -66,7 +66,8 @@ public class MmsSendHelper extends MmsCommunication {
 
       Log.w(TAG, "Payload sent");
 
-      int responseCode = client.getResponseCode();
+      final InputStream is           = client.getInputStream();
+      final int         responseCode = client.getResponseCode();
 
       Log.w(TAG, "Response code: " + responseCode + "/" + client.getResponseMessage());
 
@@ -74,7 +75,7 @@ public class MmsSendHelper extends MmsCommunication {
         throw new IOException("non-200 response");
       }
 
-      return parseResponse(client.getInputStream());
+      return parseResponse(is);
     } finally {
       if (client != null) client.disconnect();
     }