diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/sitewide/file_preview.js b/app/assets/javascripts/sitewide/file_preview.js
index 694538bab..d692ed11b 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/sitewide/file_preview.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/sitewide/file_preview.js
@@ -172,7 +172,18 @@ var FilePreviewModal = (function() {
     };
   }
 
-  function initImageEditor(data) {
+  function preInitImageEditor(data) {
+    $.ajax({
+      url: data['download-url'],
+      type: 'get',
+      success: function(responseData) {
+        var fileUrl = responseData;
+        initImageEditor(data, fileUrl);
+      }
+    });
+  }
+
+  function initImageEditor(data, fileUrl) {
     var imageEditor;
     var ps;
     var blackTheme = {
@@ -261,7 +272,7 @@ var FilePreviewModal = (function() {
     imageEditor = new tui.ImageEditor('#tui-image-editor', {
       includeUI: {
         loadImage: {
-          path: data['download-url'],
+          path: fileUrl,
           name: data.filename
         },
         theme: blackTheme,
@@ -453,7 +464,7 @@ var FilePreviewModal = (function() {
                 ev.preventDefault();
                 ev.stopPropagation();
                 modal.modal('hide');
-                initImageEditor(data);
+                preInitImageEditor(data);
               });
             } else {
               modal.find('.file-edit-link').css('display', 'none');
diff --git a/app/controllers/assets_controller.rb b/app/controllers/assets_controller.rb
index 26ee0ba8a..f18cd027f 100644
--- a/app/controllers/assets_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/assets_controller.rb
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class AssetsController < ApplicationController
 
       'filename' => truncate(escape_input(@asset.file_file_name),
                              length: Constants::FILENAME_TRUNCATION_LENGTH),
-      'download-url' => download_asset_path(@asset, timestamp: Time.now.to_i)
+      'download-url' => asset_file_url_path(@asset)
     }
 
     can_edit = if @assoc.class == Step
@@ -132,6 +132,17 @@ class AssetsController < ApplicationController
     end
   end
 
+  def file_url
+    render_404 and return unless @asset.file_present
+
+    url = if @asset.file.is_stored_on_s3?
+            @asset.presigned_url(download: true)
+          else
+            @asset.file.url
+          end
+    render plain: url
+  end
+
   def edit
     action = @asset.file_file_size.zero? && !@asset.locked? ? 'editnew' : 'edit'
     @action_url = append_wd_params(@asset
diff --git a/config/routes.rb b/config/routes.rb
index 09db94a91..143284620 100644
--- a/config/routes.rb
+++ b/config/routes.rb
@@ -593,6 +593,7 @@ Rails.application.routes.draw do
         to: 'assets#file_preview',
         as: 'asset_file_preview'
     get 'files/:id/download', to: 'assets#download', as: 'download_asset'
+    get 'files/:id/file_url', to: 'assets#file_url', as: 'asset_file_url'
     get 'files/:id/preview', to: 'assets#preview', as: 'preview_asset'
     get 'files/:id/view', to: 'assets#view', as: 'view_asset'
     get 'files/:id/edit', to: 'assets#edit', as: 'edit_asset'