diff --git a/synapse/rest/media/v1/media_repository.py b/synapse/rest/media/v1/media_repository.py
index 97c82c150e..578d7f07c5 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/media/v1/media_repository.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/media/v1/media_repository.py
@@ -445,8 +445,10 @@ class MediaRepository(object):
 
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def generate_local_exact_thumbnail(self, media_id, t_width, t_height,
-                                       t_method, t_type):
-        input_path = self.filepaths.local_media_filepath(media_id)
+                                       t_method, t_type, url_cache):
+        input_path = yield self.media_storage.ensure_media_is_in_local_cache(FileInfo(
+            None, media_id, url_cache=url_cache,
+        ))
 
         thumbnailer = Thumbnailer(input_path)
         t_byte_source = yield make_deferred_yieldable(threads.deferToThread(
@@ -459,6 +461,7 @@ class MediaRepository(object):
                 file_info = FileInfo(
                     server_name=None,
                     file_id=media_id,
+                    url_cache=url_cache,
                     thumbnail=True,
                     thumbnail_width=t_width,
                     thumbnail_height=t_height,
@@ -485,7 +488,9 @@ class MediaRepository(object):
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def generate_remote_exact_thumbnail(self, server_name, file_id, media_id,
                                         t_width, t_height, t_method, t_type):
-        input_path = self.filepaths.remote_media_filepath(server_name, file_id)
+        input_path = yield self.media_storage.ensure_media_is_in_local_cache(FileInfo(
+            server_name, file_id, url_cache=False,
+        ))
 
         thumbnailer = Thumbnailer(input_path)
         t_byte_source = yield make_deferred_yieldable(threads.deferToThread(
@@ -543,12 +548,9 @@ class MediaRepository(object):
         if not requirements:
             return
 
-        if server_name:
-            input_path = self.filepaths.remote_media_filepath(server_name, file_id)
-        elif url_cache:
-            input_path = self.filepaths.url_cache_filepath(media_id)
-        else:
-            input_path = self.filepaths.local_media_filepath(media_id)
+        input_path = yield self.media_storage.ensure_media_is_in_local_cache(FileInfo(
+            server_name, file_id, url_cache=url_cache,
+        ))
 
         thumbnailer = Thumbnailer(input_path)
         m_width = thumbnailer.width
diff --git a/synapse/rest/media/v1/media_storage.py b/synapse/rest/media/v1/media_storage.py
index 001e84578e..d3f54594a2 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/media/v1/media_storage.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/media/v1/media_storage.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 
 from twisted.internet import defer, threads
 from twisted.protocols.basic import FileSender
+from twisted.protocols.ftp import FileConsumer  # This isn't FTP specific
 
 from ._base import Responder
 
@@ -151,6 +152,32 @@ class MediaStorage(object):
 
         defer.returnValue(None)
 
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def ensure_media_is_in_local_cache(self, file_info):
+        """Ensures that the given file is in the local cache. Attempts to
+        download it from storage providers if it isn't.
+
+        Args:
+            file_info (FileInfo)
+
+        Returns:
+            Deferred[str]: Full path to local file
+        """
+        path = self._file_info_to_path(file_info)
+        local_path = os.path.join(self.local_media_directory, path)
+        if os.path.exists(local_path):
+            defer.returnValue(local_path)
+
+        for provider in self.storage_providers:
+            res = yield provider.fetch(path, file_info)
+            if res:
+                with res:
+                    with open(local_path, "w") as f:
+                        res.write_to_consumer(FileConsumer(f))
+                defer.returnValue(local_path)
+
+        raise Exception("file could not be found")
+
     def _file_info_to_path(self, file_info):
         """Converts file_info into a relative path.
 
diff --git a/synapse/rest/media/v1/thumbnail_resource.py b/synapse/rest/media/v1/thumbnail_resource.py
index 8c9653843b..49e4af514c 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/media/v1/thumbnail_resource.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/media/v1/thumbnail_resource.py
@@ -162,7 +162,8 @@ class ThumbnailResource(Resource):
 
         # Okay, so we generate one.
         file_path = yield self.media_repo.generate_local_exact_thumbnail(
-            media_id, desired_width, desired_height, desired_method, desired_type
+            media_id, desired_width, desired_height, desired_method, desired_type,
+            url_cache=media_info["url_cache"],
         )
 
         if file_path: