diff --git a/include/net.h b/include/net.h
index 9294a8f..0b87f46 100644
--- a/include/net.h
+++ b/include/net.h
@@ -126,6 +126,7 @@ void Netchan_OutOfBand (netadr_t adr, int length, byte *data);
 void Netchan_OutOfBandPrint (netadr_t adr, char *format, ...) __attribute__((format(printf,2,3)));
 qboolean Netchan_Process (netchan_t *chan);
 void Netchan_Setup (netchan_t *chan, netadr_t adr, int qport);
+void Netchan_AckPacket (netchan_t *chan);
 
 qboolean Netchan_CanPacket (netchan_t *chan);
 qboolean Netchan_CanReliable (netchan_t *chan);
diff --git a/source/cl_parse.c b/source/cl_parse.c
index 7c1e883..bab35ff 100644
--- a/source/cl_parse.c
+++ b/source/cl_parse.c
@@ -273,6 +273,8 @@ Model_NextDownload (void)
 			return;						// started a download
 	}
 
+	Netchan_AckPacket (&cls.netchan);
+
 	for (i = 1; i < MAX_MODELS; i++) {
 		if (!cl.model_name[i][0])
 			break;
@@ -334,6 +336,8 @@ Sound_NextDownload (void)
 			return;						// started a download
 	}
 
+	Netchan_AckPacket (&cls.netchan);
+
 	for (i = 1; i < MAX_SOUNDS; i++) {
 		if (!cl.sound_name[i][0])
 			break;
diff --git a/source/net_chan.c b/source/net_chan.c
index 246a2c8..f71bd26 100644
--- a/source/net_chan.c
+++ b/source/net_chan.c
@@ -448,3 +448,14 @@ Netchan_Process (netchan_t *chan)
 
 	return true;
 }
+
+/*
+	Netchan_AckPacket
+
+	Send a nop packet so that any unacked reliable packets get acked.
+*/
+void
+Netchan_AckPacket (netchan_t *chan)
+{
+	Netchan_Transmit (chan, 1, (byte*)"\001");
+}
diff --git a/source/skin.c b/source/skin.c
index e7c897b..11eb235 100644
--- a/source/skin.c
+++ b/source/skin.c
@@ -210,6 +210,8 @@ Skin_NextDownload (void)
 			return;						// started a download
 	}
 
+	Netchan_AckPacket (&cls.netchan);
+
 	cls.downloadtype = dl_none;
 
 	// now load them in for real