diff --git a/changelogs/unreleased/api-fix-files.yml b/changelogs/unreleased/api-fix-files.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..8a9e29109a8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/unreleased/api-fix-files.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+---
+title: 'API: Fix file downloading'
+merge_request: Robert Schilling
+author: 8267
diff --git a/lib/api/helpers.rb b/lib/api/helpers.rb
index eb5b947172a..dfab60f7fa5 100644
--- a/lib/api/helpers.rb
+++ b/lib/api/helpers.rb
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ module API
         header['X-Sendfile'] = path
         body
       else
-        path
+        file path
       end
     end