diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 86251a0..fcc24fd 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -747,6 +747,28 @@ dependencies = [
  "hashbrown",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "inotify"
+version = "0.10.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "abf888f9575c290197b2c948dc9e9ff10bd1a39ad1ea8585f734585fa6b9d3f9"
+dependencies = [
+ "bitflags",
+ "futures-core",
+ "inotify-sys",
+ "libc",
+ "tokio",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "inotify-sys"
+version = "0.1.5"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "e05c02b5e89bff3b946cedeca278abc628fe811e604f027c45a8aa3cf793d0eb"
+dependencies = [
+ "libc",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "itoa"
 version = "1.0.1"
@@ -1383,6 +1405,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "crc32fast",
  "env_logger",
  "futures-core",
+ "inotify",
  "log",
  "mime",
  "pin-project-lite",
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 0269d3e..bbdd0ee 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ bytes = "1.1.0"
 crc32fast = "1.3.2"
 env_logger = "0.9"
 futures-core = "0.3"
+inotify = "0.10"
 log = "0.4"
 mime = "0.3.16"
 pin-project-lite = "0.2.9"
diff --git a/src/download.rs b/src/download.rs
index 9183b91..3bde8de 100644
--- a/src/download.rs
+++ b/src/download.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,20 @@
-use std::{fs::File, os::unix::fs::MetadataExt, time::SystemTime};
+use std::{
+    cmp,
+    fs::File,
+    future::Future,
+    io,
+    path::PathBuf,
+    pin::Pin,
+    task::{Context, Poll},
+};
+
+use actix_web::error::{Error, ErrorInternalServerError};
+use bytes::Bytes;
+use futures_core::{ready, Stream};
+use inotify::{Inotify, WatchMask};
+use log::trace;
+use pin_project_lite::pin_project;
+use std::{os::unix::fs::MetadataExt, time::SystemTime};
 
 use actix_web::{
     body::{self, BoxBody, SizedStream},
@@ -20,6 +36,7 @@ use crate::DownloadableFile;
 
 pub(crate) struct DownloadingFile {
     pub(crate) file: File,
+    pub(crate) storage_path: PathBuf,
     pub(crate) info: DownloadableFile,
 }
 
@@ -101,7 +118,7 @@ impl DownloadingFile {
                 .map_into_boxed_body();
         }
 
-        let reader = crate::file::new_live_reader(length, offset, self.file, self.info.uploader);
+        let reader = new_live_reader(length, offset, self.file, self.storage_path);
 
         if offset != 0 || length != self.info.size {
             res.status(StatusCode::PARTIAL_CONTENT);
@@ -150,3 +167,170 @@ impl Responder for DownloadingFile {
         self.into_response(req)
     }
 }
+
+pin_project! {
+    pub struct LiveFileReader<F, Fut> {
+        size: u64,
+        offset: u64,
+        #[pin]
+        state: LiveFileReaderState<Fut>,
+        counter: u64,
+        available_file_size: u64,
+        callback: F,
+        #[pin]
+        events: inotify::EventStream<[u8; 1024]>,
+    }
+}
+
+pin_project! {
+    #[project = LiveFileReaderStateProj]
+    #[project_replace = LiveFileReaderStateProjReplace]
+    enum LiveFileReaderState<Fut> {
+        File { file: Option<File>, },
+        Future { #[pin] fut: Fut },
+    }
+}
+
+pub(crate) fn new_live_reader(
+    size: u64,
+    offset: u64,
+    file: File,
+    storage_path: PathBuf,
+) -> impl Stream<Item = Result<Bytes, Error>> {
+    let mut inotify = Inotify::init().expect("failed to init inotify");
+    inotify
+        .add_watch(storage_path, WatchMask::MODIFY | WatchMask::CLOSE_WRITE)
+        .expect("Failed to add inotify watch");
+    let events = inotify
+        .event_stream([0; 1024])
+        .expect("failed to set up event stream");
+    LiveFileReader {
+        size,
+        offset,
+        state: LiveFileReaderState::File { file: Some(file) },
+        counter: 0,
+        available_file_size: 0,
+        callback: live_file_reader_callback,
+        events,
+    }
+}
+
+async fn live_file_reader_callback(
+    mut file: File,
+    offset: u64,
+    max_bytes: usize,
+) -> Result<(File, Bytes), Error> {
+    use io::{Read as _, Seek as _};
+
+    let res = actix_web::web::block(move || {
+        trace!(
+            "reading up to {} bytes of file starting at {}",
+            max_bytes,
+            offset
+        );
+
+        let mut buf = Vec::with_capacity(max_bytes);
+
+        file.seek(io::SeekFrom::Start(offset))?;
+
+        let n_bytes = std::io::Read::by_ref(&mut file)
+            .take(max_bytes as u64)
+            .read_to_end(&mut buf)?;
+        trace!("got {} bytes from file", n_bytes);
+        if n_bytes == 0 {
+            Err(io::Error::from(io::ErrorKind::UnexpectedEof))
+        } else {
+            Ok((file, Bytes::from(buf)))
+        }
+    })
+    .await??;
+
+    Ok(res)
+}
+
+impl<F, Fut> Stream for LiveFileReader<F, Fut>
+where
+    F: Fn(File, u64, usize) -> Fut,
+    Fut: Future<Output = Result<(File, Bytes), Error>>,
+{
+    type Item = Result<Bytes, Error>;
+
+    fn poll_next(mut self: Pin<&mut Self>, cx: &mut Context<'_>) -> Poll<Option<Self::Item>> {
+        let mut this = self.as_mut().project();
+        match this.state.as_mut().project() {
+            LiveFileReaderStateProj::File { file } => {
+                let size = *this.size;
+                let offset = *this.offset;
+                let counter = *this.counter;
+
+                if size == counter {
+                    Poll::Ready(None)
+                } else {
+                    let inner_file = file.take().expect("LiveFileReader polled after completion");
+
+                    if offset >= *this.available_file_size {
+                        trace!(
+                            "offset {} has reached available file size {}, updating metadata",
+                            offset,
+                            this.available_file_size
+                        );
+                        // If we've hit the end of what was available
+                        // last time we checked, check again
+                        *this.available_file_size = match inner_file.metadata() {
+                            Ok(md) => md.len(),
+                            Err(e) => {
+                                return Poll::Ready(Some(Err(e.into())));
+                            }
+                        };
+                        trace!("new available file size: {}", this.available_file_size);
+
+                        // If we're still at the end, inotify time
+                        if offset >= *this.available_file_size {
+                            trace!("waiting for inotify events");
+                            file.get_or_insert(inner_file);
+                            match this.events.poll_next(cx) {
+                                Poll::Pending => {
+                                    return Poll::Pending;
+                                }
+                                Poll::Ready(Some(_)) => {
+                                    return self.poll_next(cx);
+                                }
+                                _ => {
+                                    return Poll::Ready(Some(Err(ErrorInternalServerError(
+                                        "inotify stream empty",
+                                    ))));
+                                }
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
+
+                    let max_bytes = cmp::min(
+                        65_536,
+                        cmp::min(
+                            size.saturating_sub(counter),
+                            this.available_file_size.saturating_sub(offset),
+                        ),
+                    ) as usize;
+
+                    let fut = (this.callback)(inner_file, offset, max_bytes);
+
+                    this.state
+                        .project_replace(LiveFileReaderState::Future { fut });
+
+                    self.poll_next(cx)
+                }
+            }
+            LiveFileReaderStateProj::Future { fut } => {
+                let (file, bytes) = ready!(fut.poll(cx))?;
+
+                this.state
+                    .project_replace(LiveFileReaderState::File { file: Some(file) });
+
+                *this.offset += bytes.len() as u64;
+                *this.counter += bytes.len() as u64;
+
+                Poll::Ready(Some(Ok(bytes)))
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/file.rs b/src/file.rs
index 0ba6bf8..e69de29 100644
--- a/src/file.rs
+++ b/src/file.rs
@@ -1,224 +0,0 @@
-use std::{
-    cmp,
-    fs::File,
-    future::Future,
-    io::{self, Write},
-    path::PathBuf,
-    pin::Pin,
-    task::{Context, Poll, Waker},
-};
-
-use actix::Addr;
-use actix_web::error::{Error, ErrorInternalServerError};
-use bytes::Bytes;
-use futures_core::{ready, Stream};
-use log::trace;
-use pin_project_lite::pin_project;
-
-use crate::upload::WakerMessage;
-
-pub trait LiveWriter: Write {
-    fn add_waker(&mut self, waker: Waker);
-}
-
-/// A simple wrapper for a file that can be read while we're still appending data
-pub struct LiveFileWriter {
-    file: File,
-    /// Wake handles for contexts that are waiting for us to write more
-    wakers: Vec<Waker>,
-}
-
-impl LiveFileWriter {
-    pub fn new(path: &PathBuf) -> std::io::Result<Self> {
-        Ok(Self {
-            file: File::options().write(true).create_new(true).open(path)?,
-            wakers: Vec::new(),
-        })
-    }
-}
-
-impl LiveWriter for LiveFileWriter {
-    fn add_waker(&mut self, waker: Waker) {
-        self.wakers.push(waker);
-    }
-}
-
-impl Write for LiveFileWriter {
-    fn write(&mut self, buf: &[u8]) -> std::io::Result<usize> {
-        let result = self.file.write(buf);
-        if let Ok(n) = result {
-            if n > 0 {
-                for waker in self.wakers.drain(..) {
-                    waker.wake();
-                }
-            }
-        }
-        result
-    }
-
-    fn flush(&mut self) -> std::io::Result<()> {
-        self.file.flush()
-    }
-}
-
-// This implementation of a file responder is copied pretty directly
-// from actix-files with some tweaks
-
-pin_project! {
-    pub struct LiveFileReader<F, Fut> {
-        size: u64,
-        offset: u64,
-        #[pin]
-        state: LiveFileReaderState<Fut>,
-        counter: u64,
-        available_file_size: u64,
-        callback: F,
-        uploader: Option<Addr<crate::upload::Uploader>>,
-    }
-}
-
-pin_project! {
-    #[project = LiveFileReaderStateProj]
-    #[project_replace = LiveFileReaderStateProjReplace]
-    enum LiveFileReaderState<Fut> {
-        File { file: Option<File>, },
-        Future { #[pin] fut: Fut },
-    }
-}
-
-pub(crate) fn new_live_reader(
-    size: u64,
-    offset: u64,
-    file: File,
-    uploader: Option<Addr<crate::upload::Uploader>>,
-) -> impl Stream<Item = Result<Bytes, Error>> {
-    LiveFileReader {
-        size,
-        offset,
-        state: LiveFileReaderState::File { file: Some(file) },
-        counter: 0,
-        available_file_size: 0,
-        callback: live_file_reader_callback,
-        uploader,
-    }
-}
-
-async fn live_file_reader_callback(
-    mut file: File,
-    offset: u64,
-    max_bytes: usize,
-) -> Result<(File, Bytes), Error> {
-    use io::{Read as _, Seek as _};
-
-    let res = actix_web::web::block(move || {
-        trace!(
-            "reading up to {} bytes of file starting at {}",
-            max_bytes,
-            offset
-        );
-
-        let mut buf = Vec::with_capacity(max_bytes);
-
-        file.seek(io::SeekFrom::Start(offset))?;
-
-        let n_bytes = std::io::Read::by_ref(&mut file)
-            .take(max_bytes as u64)
-            .read_to_end(&mut buf)?;
-        trace!("got {} bytes from file", n_bytes);
-        if n_bytes == 0 {
-            Err(io::Error::from(io::ErrorKind::UnexpectedEof))
-        } else {
-            Ok((file, Bytes::from(buf)))
-        }
-    })
-    .await??;
-
-    Ok(res)
-}
-
-impl<F, Fut> Stream for LiveFileReader<F, Fut>
-where
-    F: Fn(File, u64, usize) -> Fut,
-    Fut: Future<Output = Result<(File, Bytes), Error>>,
-{
-    type Item = Result<Bytes, Error>;
-
-    fn poll_next(mut self: Pin<&mut Self>, cx: &mut Context<'_>) -> Poll<Option<Self::Item>> {
-        let mut this = self.as_mut().project();
-        match this.state.as_mut().project() {
-            LiveFileReaderStateProj::File { file } => {
-                let size = *this.size;
-                let offset = *this.offset;
-                let counter = *this.counter;
-
-                if size == counter {
-                    Poll::Ready(None)
-                } else {
-                    let inner_file = file.take().expect("LiveFileReader polled after completion");
-
-                    if offset >= *this.available_file_size {
-                        trace!(
-                            "offset {} has reached available file size {}, updating metadata",
-                            offset,
-                            this.available_file_size
-                        );
-                        // If we've hit the end of what was available
-                        // last time we checked, check again
-                        *this.available_file_size = match inner_file.metadata() {
-                            Ok(md) => md.len(),
-                            Err(e) => {
-                                return Poll::Ready(Some(Err(e.into())));
-                            }
-                        };
-                        trace!("new available file size: {}", this.available_file_size);
-
-                        // If we're still at the end, wait for a wakeup from the uploader
-                        if offset >= *this.available_file_size {
-                            trace!("requesting wakeup from uploader");
-                            file.get_or_insert(inner_file);
-                            if let Some(addr) = this.uploader {
-                                if let Ok(()) = addr.try_send(WakerMessage(cx.waker().clone())) {
-                                    return Poll::Pending;
-                                } else {
-                                    return Poll::Ready(Some(Err(ErrorInternalServerError(
-                                        "Failed to contact file upload actor",
-                                    ))));
-                                }
-                            } else {
-                                return Poll::Ready(Some(Err(ErrorInternalServerError(
-                                    "File upload was not completed",
-                                ))));
-                            }
-                        }
-                    }
-
-                    let max_bytes = cmp::min(
-                        65_536,
-                        cmp::min(
-                            size.saturating_sub(counter),
-                            this.available_file_size.saturating_sub(offset),
-                        ),
-                    ) as usize;
-
-                    let fut = (this.callback)(inner_file, offset, max_bytes);
-
-                    this.state
-                        .project_replace(LiveFileReaderState::Future { fut });
-
-                    self.poll_next(cx)
-                }
-            }
-            LiveFileReaderStateProj::Future { fut } => {
-                let (file, bytes) = ready!(fut.poll(cx))?;
-
-                this.state
-                    .project_replace(LiveFileReaderState::File { file: Some(file) });
-
-                *this.offset += bytes.len() as u64;
-                *this.counter += bytes.len() as u64;
-
-                Poll::Ready(Some(Ok(bytes)))
-            }
-        }
-    }
-}
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 87dcdca..ca48349 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 mod download;
-mod file;
 mod state;
 mod upload;
 mod util;
@@ -7,7 +6,6 @@ mod zip;
 
 use std::{fs::File, path::PathBuf};
 
-use actix::Addr;
 use actix_web::{
     get, middleware::Logger, web, App, HttpRequest, HttpResponse, HttpServer, Responder,
 };
@@ -41,8 +39,6 @@ pub struct DownloadableFile {
     size: u64,
     #[serde(with = "state::timestamp")]
     modtime: OffsetDateTime,
-    #[serde(skip)]
-    uploader: Option<Addr<upload::Uploader>>,
 }
 
 type AppData = web::Data<RwLock<PersistentState>>;
@@ -64,8 +60,11 @@ async fn handle_download(
     let data = data.read().await;
     let info = data.lookup_file(&file_code);
     if let Some(info) = info {
+        let storage_path = storage_dir().join(file_code);
+        let file = File::open(&storage_path)?;
         Ok(download::DownloadingFile {
-            file: File::open(storage_dir().join(file_code))?,
+            file,
+            storage_path,
             info,
         }
         .into_response(&req))
diff --git a/src/state.rs b/src/state.rs
index a71a050..4bcecb3 100644
--- a/src/state.rs
+++ b/src/state.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 use std::{collections::HashMap, io::ErrorKind};
 
-use log::{error, info, warn, debug};
+use log::{debug, error, info, warn};
 use tokio::{
     fs::File,
     io::{AsyncReadExt, AsyncWriteExt},
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ pub(crate) mod timestamp {
 }
 
 async fn is_valid_entry(key: &str, info: &DownloadableFile) -> bool {
-    if !crate::util::is_ascii_alphanumeric(&key) {
+    if !crate::util::is_ascii_alphanumeric(key) {
         error!("Invalid key in persistent storage: {}", key);
         return false;
     }
@@ -142,10 +142,4 @@ impl PersistentState {
         self.0.remove(key);
         self.save().await
     }
-
-    pub(crate) fn remove_uploader(&mut self, key: &str) {
-        if let Some(f) = self.0.get_mut(key) {
-            f.uploader.take();
-        }
-    }
 }
diff --git a/src/upload.rs b/src/upload.rs
index d8f3003..ad7bb1f 100644
--- a/src/upload.rs
+++ b/src/upload.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-use std::{collections::HashSet, io::Write, task::Waker};
+use std::{collections::HashSet, fs::File, io::Write};
 
-use actix::{fut::future::ActorFutureExt, Actor, ActorContext, AsyncContext, Handler, Message, StreamHandler};
+use actix::{fut::future::ActorFutureExt, Actor, ActorContext, AsyncContext, StreamHandler};
 use actix_http::ws::{CloseReason, Item};
 use actix_web_actors::ws::{self, CloseCode};
 use bytes::Bytes;
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ use rand::distributions::{Alphanumeric, DistString};
 use serde::Deserialize;
 use time::OffsetDateTime;
 
-use crate::{file::LiveWriter, DownloadableFile, UploadedFile, storage_dir};
+use crate::{storage_dir, DownloadableFile, UploadedFile};
 
 const MAX_FILES: usize = 256;
 const FILENAME_DATE_FORMAT: &[time::format_description::FormatItem] =
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ impl Error {
 }
 
 pub struct Uploader {
-    writer: Option<Box<dyn LiveWriter>>,
+    writer: Option<Box<dyn Write>>,
     storage_filename: String,
     app_data: super::AppData,
     bytes_remaining: u64,
@@ -75,21 +75,6 @@ impl Actor for Uploader {
     type Context = ws::WebsocketContext<Self>;
 }
 
-#[derive(Message)]
-#[rtype(result = "()")]
-pub(crate) struct WakerMessage(pub Waker);
-
-impl Handler<WakerMessage> for Uploader {
-    type Result = ();
-    fn handle(&mut self, msg: WakerMessage, _: &mut Self::Context) {
-        if let Some(w) = self.writer.as_mut() {
-            w.add_waker(msg.0);
-        } else {
-            error!("Got a wakeup request before creating a file");
-        }
-    }
-}
-
 #[derive(Debug, Deserialize)]
 struct RawUploadedFile {
     name: String,
@@ -108,6 +93,15 @@ impl RawUploadedFile {
     }
 }
 
+fn stop_and_flush<T>(_: T, u: &mut Uploader, ctx: &mut <Uploader as Actor>::Context) {
+    ctx.stop();
+    if let Some(w) = u.writer.as_mut() {
+        if let Err(e) = w.flush() {
+            error!("Failed to flush writer: {}", e);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 impl StreamHandler<Result<ws::Message, ws::ProtocolError>> for Uploader {
     fn handle(&mut self, msg: Result<ws::Message, ws::ProtocolError>, ctx: &mut Self::Context) {
         let msg = match msg {
@@ -130,17 +124,11 @@ impl StreamHandler<Result<ws::Message, ws::ProtocolError>> for Uploader {
             }
             Ok(true) => {
                 info!("Finished uploading data");
-                self.writer.as_mut().map(|w| w.flush());
                 ctx.close(Some(ws::CloseReason {
                     code: CloseCode::Normal,
                     description: None,
                 }));
-                let data = self.app_data.clone();
-                let filename = self.storage_filename.clone();
-                ctx.wait(actix::fut::wrap_future(async move {
-                    debug!("Spawned future to remove uploader from entry {} before stopping", filename);
-                    data.write().await.remove_uploader(&filename);
-                }).map(|_, _, ctx: &mut Self::Context| ctx.stop()));
+                stop_and_flush((), self, ctx);
             }
             _ => (),
         }
@@ -191,9 +179,11 @@ impl Uploader {
                 self.storage_filename = storage_filename.clone();
                 let storage_path = storage_dir().join(storage_filename.clone());
                 info!("storing to: {:?}", storage_path);
-                let writer = super::file::LiveFileWriter::new(&storage_path)?;
-                let addr = Some(ctx.address());
-                let (writer, downloadable_file): (Box<dyn LiveWriter>, _) = if files.len() > 1 {
+                let writer = File::options()
+                    .write(true)
+                    .create_new(true)
+                    .open(&storage_path)?;
+                let (writer, downloadable_file): (Box<dyn Write>, _) = if files.len() > 1 {
                     info!("Wrapping in zipfile generator");
                     let now = OffsetDateTime::now_utc();
                     let zip_writer = super::zip::ZipGenerator::new(files, writer);
@@ -206,7 +196,6 @@ impl Uploader {
                             name: download_filename,
                             size,
                             modtime: now,
-                            uploader: addr,
                         },
                     )
                 } else {
@@ -216,7 +205,6 @@ impl Uploader {
                             name: files[0].name.clone(),
                             size: files[0].size,
                             modtime: files[0].modtime,
-                            uploader: addr,
                         },
                     )
                 };
@@ -274,13 +262,19 @@ impl Uploader {
     }
 
     fn cleanup_after_error(&mut self, ctx: &mut <Self as Actor>::Context) {
-        info!("Cleaning up after failed upload of {}", self.storage_filename);
+        info!(
+            "Cleaning up after failed upload of {}",
+            self.storage_filename
+        );
         let data = self.app_data.clone();
         let filename = self.storage_filename.clone();
-        ctx.wait(actix::fut::wrap_future(async move {
-            debug!("Spawned future to remove entry {} from state", filename);
-            data.write().await.remove_file(&filename).await.unwrap();
-        }).map(|_, _, ctx: &mut <Self as Actor>::Context| ctx.stop()));
+        ctx.wait(
+            actix::fut::wrap_future(async move {
+                debug!("Spawned future to remove entry {} from state", filename);
+                data.write().await.remove_file(&filename).await.unwrap();
+            })
+            .map(stop_and_flush),
+        );
         if let Err(e) = std::fs::remove_file(storage_dir().join(&self.storage_filename)) {
             error!("Failed to remove file {}: {}", self.storage_filename, e);
         }
diff --git a/src/zip.rs b/src/zip.rs
index 2ff9ecf..de8b1a9 100644
--- a/src/zip.rs
+++ b/src/zip.rs
@@ -1,11 +1,9 @@
 use std::io::Write;
-use std::task::Waker;
 
 use crc32fast::Hasher;
 use log::debug;
 use time::OffsetDateTime;
 
-use crate::file::LiveWriter;
 use crate::UploadedFile;
 
 const SIGNATURE_SIZE: u64 = 4;
@@ -280,12 +278,6 @@ impl<W: Write> ZipGenerator<W> {
     }
 }
 
-impl<W: LiveWriter> LiveWriter for ZipGenerator<W> {
-    fn add_waker(&mut self, waker: Waker) {
-        self.output.add_waker(waker);
-    }
-}
-
 impl<W: Write> Write for ZipGenerator<W> {
     fn write(&mut self, mut buf: &[u8]) -> std::io::Result<usize> {
         while !self.pending_metadata.is_empty() {