diff --git a/py/routes/misc_routes.py b/py/routes/misc_routes.py
index 588df51b..ca974a9e 100644
--- a/py/routes/misc_routes.py
+++ b/py/routes/misc_routes.py
@@ -296,9 +296,22 @@ class MiscRoutes:
         """
         global is_downloading, download_progress
         
-        # Get CivitAI client with proxy support
-        civitai_client = await ServiceRegistry.get_civitai_client()
-        session = await civitai_client.session
+        # Create an independent session for downloading example images
+        # This avoids interference with the CivitAI client's session
+        connector = aiohttp.TCPConnector(
+            ssl=True,
+            limit=3,
+            force_close=False,
+            enable_cleanup_closed=True
+        )
+        timeout = aiohttp.ClientTimeout(total=None, connect=60, sock_read=60)
+        
+        # Create a dedicated session just for this download task
+        independent_session = aiohttp.ClientSession(
+            connector=connector,
+            trust_env=True,
+            timeout=timeout
+        )
         
         try:
             # Get the scanners
@@ -336,6 +349,8 @@ class MiscRoutes:
                     logger.info(f"Download stopped: {download_progress['status']}")
                     break
                 
+                model_success = True  # Track if all images for this model download successfully
+                
                 try:
                     # Update current model info
                     model_hash = model.get('sha256', '').lower()
@@ -391,8 +406,8 @@ class MiscRoutes:
                         try:
                             logger.debug(f"Downloading {save_filename} for {model_name}")
                             
-                            # Direct download using session from CivitAI client
-                            async with session.get(image_url, timeout=60) as response:
+                            # Direct download using the independent session
+                            async with independent_session.get(image_url, timeout=60) as response:
                                 if response.status == 200:
                                     if is_image and optimize:
                                         # For images, optimize if requested
@@ -420,7 +435,11 @@ class MiscRoutes:
                                                 if chunk:
                                                     f.write(chunk)
                                 else:
-                                    logger.warning(f"Failed to download file: {image_url}, status code: {response.status}")
+                                    error_msg = f"Failed to download file: {image_url}, status code: {response.status}"
+                                    logger.warning(error_msg)
+                                    download_progress['errors'].append(error_msg)
+                                    download_progress['last_error'] = error_msg
+                                    model_success = False  # Mark model as failed
                             
                             # Add a delay between downloads
                             await asyncio.sleep(delay)
@@ -429,10 +448,13 @@ class MiscRoutes:
                             logger.error(error_msg)
                             download_progress['errors'].append(error_msg)
                             download_progress['last_error'] = error_msg
-                            # Continue with next file
+                            model_success = False  # Mark model as failed
                     
-                    # Mark model as processed
-                    download_progress['processed_models'].add(model_hash)
+                    # Only mark model as processed if all images downloaded successfully
+                    if model_success:
+                        download_progress['processed_models'].add(model_hash)
+                    else:
+                        logger.warning(f"Model {model_name} had download errors, will not mark as completed")
                     
                     # Save progress to file periodically
                     if download_progress['completed'] % 10 == 0 or download_progress['completed'] == download_progress['total'] - 1:
@@ -468,6 +490,12 @@ class MiscRoutes:
             download_progress['end_time'] = time.time()
         
         finally:
+            # Close the independent session
+            try:
+                await independent_session.close()
+            except Exception as e:
+                logger.error(f"Error closing download session: {e}")
+                
             # Save final progress to file
             try:
                 progress_file = os.path.join(output_dir, '.download_progress.json')