diff --git a/TODO.md b/TODO.md
index c52bfeff..c814dd06 100644
--- a/TODO.md
+++ b/TODO.md
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
   - Handle upload errors: non existent path, path is a dir, file too big, etc
   - Show real progression for mxc thumbnail loadings, uploads and downloads
 
+  - Show reason under broken thumbnail icons
   - Support m.file thumbnails
   - Generate video thumbnails
   - GIFs can use the video player
diff --git a/src/python/backend.py b/src/python/backend.py
index 231b6f50..11daa80f 100644
--- a/src/python/backend.py
+++ b/src/python/backend.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import asyncio
 import logging as log
+from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any, DefaultDict, Dict, List, Optional, Tuple, Union
 
 import hsluv
@@ -38,6 +39,10 @@ class Backend:
         self.get_profile_locks: DefaultDict[str, asyncio.Lock] = \
                 DefaultDict(asyncio.Lock)  # {user_id: lock}
 
+        from .media_cache import MediaCache
+        cache_dir        = Path(self.app.appdirs.user_cache_dir)
+        self.media_cache = MediaCache(self, cache_dir)
+
 
     def __repr__(self) -> str:
         return f"{type(self).__name__}(clients={self.clients!r})"
@@ -168,28 +173,6 @@ class Backend:
         return (settings, ui_state, theme)
 
 
-    async def get_profile(self, user_id: str) -> nio.ProfileGetResponse:
-        if user_id in self.profile_cache:
-            return self.profile_cache[user_id]
-
-        async with self.get_profile_locks[user_id]:
-            while True:
-                try:
-                    client = next(c for c in self.clients.values())
-                    break
-                except StopIteration:
-                    # Retry after a bit if no client was present yet
-                    await asyncio.sleep(0.1)
-
-            response = await client.get_profile(user_id)
-
-            if isinstance(response, nio.ProfileGetError):
-                raise MatrixError.from_nio(response)
-
-            self.profile_cache[user_id] = response
-            return response
-
-
     async def get_flat_sidepane_data(self) -> List[Dict[str, Any]]:
         data = []
 
@@ -210,3 +193,54 @@ class Backend:
                 })
 
         return data
+
+
+    # Client functions that don't need authentification
+
+    async def _any_client(self) -> MatrixClient:
+        while True:
+            try:
+                return next(c for c in self.clients.values())
+            except StopIteration:
+                # Retry after a bit if we don't have any clients yet
+                await asyncio.sleep(0.1)
+
+
+    async def get_profile(self, user_id: str) -> nio.ProfileGetResponse:
+        if user_id in self.profile_cache:
+            return self.profile_cache[user_id]
+
+        async with self.get_profile_locks[user_id]:
+            response = await (await self._any_client()).get_profile(user_id)
+
+            if isinstance(response, nio.ProfileGetError):
+                raise MatrixError.from_nio(response)
+
+            self.profile_cache[user_id] = response
+            return response
+
+
+    async def thumbnail(
+        self, server_name: str, media_id: str, width: int, height: int,
+    ) -> nio.ThumbnailResponse:
+
+        client   = await self._any_client()
+        response = await client.thumbnail(server_name, media_id, width, height)
+
+        if isinstance(response, nio.ThumbnailError):
+            raise MatrixError.from_nio(response)
+
+        return response
+
+
+    async def download(
+        self, server_name: str, media_id: str,
+    ) -> nio.DownloadResponse:
+
+        client   = await self._any_client()
+        response = await client.download(server_name, media_id)
+
+        if isinstance(response, nio.DownloadError):
+            raise MatrixError.from_nio(response)
+
+        return response
diff --git a/src/python/matrix_client.py b/src/python/matrix_client.py
index b13ad8ee..1d58c42d 100644
--- a/src/python/matrix_client.py
+++ b/src/python/matrix_client.py
@@ -80,10 +80,6 @@ class MatrixClient(nio.AsyncClient):
 
         self.skipped_events: DefaultDict[str, int] = DefaultDict(lambda: 0)
 
-        from .media_cache import MediaCache
-        cache_dir        = Path(self.backend.app.appdirs.user_cache_dir)
-        self.media_cache = MediaCache(self, cache_dir)
-
         from .nio_callbacks import NioCallbacks
         self.nio_callbacks = NioCallbacks(self)
 
diff --git a/src/python/media_cache.py b/src/python/media_cache.py
index 7d1a12b9..b1765d4a 100644
--- a/src/python/media_cache.py
+++ b/src/python/media_cache.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ from PIL import Image as PILImage
 
 import nio
 
-from .matrix_client import MatrixClient
+from .backend import Backend
 
 CryptDict = Optional[Dict[str, Any]]
 Size      = Tuple[int, int]
@@ -21,12 +21,6 @@ CONCURRENT_DOWNLOADS_LIMIT                   = asyncio.BoundedSemaphore(8)
 ACCESS_LOCKS: DefaultDict[str, asyncio.Lock] = DefaultDict(asyncio.Lock)
 
 
-@dataclass
-class DownloadFailed(Exception):
-    message:   str = field()
-    http_code: int = field()
-
-
 @dataclass
 class Media:
     cache:      "MediaCache"    = field()
@@ -85,14 +79,11 @@ class Media:
     async def _get_remote_data(self) -> bytes:
         parsed = urlparse(self.mxc)
 
-        resp = await self.cache.client.download(
+        resp = await self.cache.backend.download(
             server_name = parsed.netloc,
             media_id    = parsed.path.lstrip("/"),
         )
 
-        if isinstance(resp, nio.DownloadError):
-            raise DownloadFailed(resp.message, resp.status_code)
-
         return await self._decrypt(resp.body)
 
 
@@ -181,21 +172,18 @@ class Thumbnail(Media):
         parsed = urlparse(self.mxc)
 
         if self.crypt_dict:
-            resp = await self.cache.client.download(
+            resp = await self.cache.backend.download(
                 server_name = parsed.netloc,
                 media_id    = parsed.path.lstrip("/"),
             )
         else:
-            resp = await self.cache.client.thumbnail(
+            resp = await self.cache.backend.thumbnail(
                 server_name = parsed.netloc,
                 media_id    = parsed.path.lstrip("/"),
                 width       = self.wanted_size[0],
                 height      = self.wanted_size[1],
             )
 
-        if isinstance(resp, (nio.DownloadError, nio.ThumbnailError)):
-            raise DownloadFailed(resp.message, resp.status_code)
-
         decrypted = await self._decrypt(resp.body)
 
         with io.BytesIO(decrypted) as img:
@@ -207,8 +195,8 @@ class Thumbnail(Media):
 
 @dataclass
 class MediaCache:
-    client:   MatrixClient = field()
-    base_dir: Path         = field()
+    backend:  Backend = field()
+    base_dir: Path    = field()
 
 
     def __post_init__(self) -> None:
diff --git a/src/qml/Base/HAvatar.qml b/src/qml/Base/HAvatar.qml
index 916b9f53..6e25fd0f 100644
--- a/src/qml/Base/HAvatar.qml
+++ b/src/qml/Base/HAvatar.qml
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ Rectangle {
        theme.controls.avatar.background.opacity
    )
 
-    property string clientUserId
     property string name
     property alias mxc: avatarImage.mxc
 
@@ -53,7 +52,6 @@ Rectangle {
         sourceSize.height: parent.height
         fillMode: Image.PreserveAspectCrop
         animate: false
-        clientUserId: avatar.clientUserId
 
         HoverHandler { id: hoverHandler }
 
@@ -74,7 +72,6 @@ Rectangle {
             contentItem: HMxcImage {
                 id: avatarToolTipImage
                 fillMode: Image.PreserveAspectCrop
-                clientUserId: avatar.clientUserId
                 mxc: avatarImage.mxc
 
                 sourceSize.width: avatarToolTip.dimension
diff --git a/src/qml/Base/HImage.qml b/src/qml/Base/HImage.qml
index 6bf68473..546d76c9 100644
--- a/src/qml/Base/HImage.qml
+++ b/src/qml/Base/HImage.qml
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ Image {
            (sourceSize.width + sourceSize.height) <= 512
 
 
+    property bool broken: false
     property bool animate: true
     property bool animated: Utils.urlExtension(image.source) === "gif"
     property alias progressBar: progressBar
@@ -78,7 +79,7 @@ Image {
 
     HIcon {
         anchors.centerIn: parent
-        visible: image.status === Image.Error
+        visible: broken || image.status === Image.Error
         svgName: "broken-image"
         dimension: Math.max(16, Math.min(parent.width, parent.height) * 0.2)
         colorize: theme.colors.negativeBackground
diff --git a/src/qml/Base/HMxcImage.qml b/src/qml/Base/HMxcImage.qml
index dd039fa0..1bf7f558 100644
--- a/src/qml/Base/HMxcImage.qml
+++ b/src/qml/Base/HMxcImage.qml
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ HImage {
     }
 
 
-    property string clientUserId
     property string mxc
     property string sourceOverride: ""
     property bool thumbnail: true
@@ -53,12 +52,16 @@ HImage {
         let args = image.thumbnail ?
                    [image.mxc, w, h, cryptDict] : [image.mxc, cryptDict]
 
-        py.callClientCoro(
-            clientUserId, "media_cache." + method, args, path => {
+        py.callCoro("media_cache." + method, args, path => {
                 if (! image) return
                 if (image.cachedPath != path) image.cachedPath = path
-                show = image.visible
-            }
+
+                image.broken = false
+                image.show   = image.visible
+
+            }, () => {
+                image.broken = true
+            },
         )
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/qml/Chat/Banners/Banner.qml b/src/qml/Chat/Banners/Banner.qml
index e81959d5..1145aab7 100644
--- a/src/qml/Chat/Banners/Banner.qml
+++ b/src/qml/Chat/Banners/Banner.qml
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ Rectangle {
 
                 HUserAvatar {
                     id: bannerAvatar
-                    clientUserId: chatPage.userId
                     anchors.centerIn: parent
                 }
             }
diff --git a/src/qml/Chat/Composer.qml b/src/qml/Chat/Composer.qml
index 6510fac2..45aeb635 100644
--- a/src/qml/Chat/Composer.qml
+++ b/src/qml/Chat/Composer.qml
@@ -58,7 +58,6 @@ Rectangle {
 
         HUserAvatar {
             id: avatar
-            clientUserId: chatPage.userId
             userId: writingUserId
             displayName: writingUserInfo.display_name
             mxc: writingUserInfo.avatar_url
diff --git a/src/qml/Chat/RoomHeader.qml b/src/qml/Chat/RoomHeader.qml
index 1ff03f2b..af788c99 100644
--- a/src/qml/Chat/RoomHeader.qml
+++ b/src/qml/Chat/RoomHeader.qml
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ Rectangle {
 
         HRoomAvatar {
             id: avatar
-            clientUserId: chatPage.userId
             displayName: chatPage.roomInfo.display_name
             mxc: chatPage.roomInfo.avatar_url
             Layout.alignment: Qt.AlignTop
diff --git a/src/qml/Chat/RoomSidePane/MemberDelegate.qml b/src/qml/Chat/RoomSidePane/MemberDelegate.qml
index a548deb0..d7e5b097 100644
--- a/src/qml/Chat/RoomSidePane/MemberDelegate.qml
+++ b/src/qml/Chat/RoomSidePane/MemberDelegate.qml
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ HTileDelegate {
     backgroundColor: theme.chat.roomSidePane.member.background
 
     image: HUserAvatar {
-        clientUserId: chatPage.userId
         userId: model.user_id
         displayName: model.display_name
         mxc: model.avatar_url
diff --git a/src/qml/Chat/Timeline/EventContent.qml b/src/qml/Chat/Timeline/EventContent.qml
index 6f0029dc..1748213e 100644
--- a/src/qml/Chat/Timeline/EventContent.qml
+++ b/src/qml/Chat/Timeline/EventContent.qml
@@ -57,7 +57,6 @@ HRowLayout {
 
         HUserAvatar {
             id: avatar
-            clientUserId: chatPage.userId
             userId: model.sender_id
             displayName: model.sender_name
             mxc: model.sender_avatar
diff --git a/src/qml/Chat/Timeline/EventImage.qml b/src/qml/Chat/Timeline/EventImage.qml
index 78183f35..bc120ead 100644
--- a/src/qml/Chat/Timeline/EventImage.qml
+++ b/src/qml/Chat/Timeline/EventImage.qml
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ HMxcImage {
     horizontalAlignment: Image.AlignLeft
     animated: loader.singleMediaInfo.media_mime === "image/gif" ||
               Utils.urlExtension(loader.mediaUrl) === "gif"
-    clientUserId: chatPage.userId
     thumbnail: ! animated && loader.thumbnailMxc
     mxc: thumbnail ?
          (loader.thumbnailMxc || loader.mediaUrl) :
diff --git a/src/qml/Pages/AccountSettings/Profile.qml b/src/qml/Pages/AccountSettings/Profile.qml
index 12c8d7bd..46335339 100644
--- a/src/qml/Pages/AccountSettings/Profile.qml
+++ b/src/qml/Pages/AccountSettings/Profile.qml
@@ -58,7 +58,6 @@ HGridLayout {
         property bool changed: Boolean(sourceOverride)
 
         id: avatar
-        clientUserId: accountSettings.userId
         userId: accountSettings.userId
         displayName: nameField.field.text
         mxc: accountInfo.avatar_url
diff --git a/src/qml/Pages/AddChat/CreateRoom.qml b/src/qml/Pages/AddChat/CreateRoom.qml
index 231f8897..e375b576 100644
--- a/src/qml/Pages/AddChat/CreateRoom.qml
+++ b/src/qml/Pages/AddChat/CreateRoom.qml
@@ -55,7 +55,6 @@ HBox {
 
     HRoomAvatar {
         id: avatar
-        clientUserId: userId
         displayName: nameField.text
 
         Layout.alignment: Qt.AlignCenter
diff --git a/src/qml/Pages/AddChat/CurrentUserAvatar.qml b/src/qml/Pages/AddChat/CurrentUserAvatar.qml
index 1cac18a4..ed87f59c 100644
--- a/src/qml/Pages/AddChat/CurrentUserAvatar.qml
+++ b/src/qml/Pages/AddChat/CurrentUserAvatar.qml
@@ -2,8 +2,7 @@ import QtQuick 2.12
 import "../../Base"
 
 HUserAvatar {
-    clientUserId: addChatPage.userId
-    userId: clientUserId
+    userId: addChatPage.userId
     displayName: addChatPage.account ? addChatPage.account.display_name : ""
     mxc: addChatPage.account ? addChatPage.account.avatar_url : ""
 }
diff --git a/src/qml/SidePane/AccountDelegate.qml b/src/qml/SidePane/AccountDelegate.qml
index 639ad7f8..92c94176 100644
--- a/src/qml/SidePane/AccountDelegate.qml
+++ b/src/qml/SidePane/AccountDelegate.qml
@@ -46,7 +46,6 @@ HTileDelegate {
 
 
     image: HUserAvatar {
-        clientUserId: model.data.user_id
         userId: model.data.user_id
         displayName: model.data.display_name
         mxc: model.data.avatar_url
diff --git a/src/qml/SidePane/RoomDelegate.qml b/src/qml/SidePane/RoomDelegate.qml
index 953c079c..e8f3017d 100644
--- a/src/qml/SidePane/RoomDelegate.qml
+++ b/src/qml/SidePane/RoomDelegate.qml
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ HTileDelegate {
 
 
     image: HRoomAvatar {
-        clientUserId: model.user_id
         displayName: model.data.display_name
         mxc: model.data.avatar_url
     }