diff --git a/scripts/HFIRPowderReduction/HfirPDReductionGUI.py b/scripts/HFIRPowderReduction/HfirPDReductionGUI.py
index a1ba82c676bf..2774b62559e1 100644
--- a/scripts/HFIRPowderReduction/HfirPDReductionGUI.py
+++ b/scripts/HFIRPowderReduction/HfirPDReductionGUI.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#pylint: disable=invalid-name, relative-import, too-many-lines,too-many-instance-attributes,too-many-arguments
+#pylint: disable=invalid-name, relative-import, too-many-lines,too-many-instance-attributes,too-many-arguments,C901
 ################################################################################
 # Main class for HFIR powder reduction GUI
 # Key word for future developing: FUTURE, NEXT, REFACTOR, RELEASE 2.0
@@ -407,14 +407,14 @@ def __init__(self, parent=None):
         cache_dir = str(self.ui.lineEdit_cache.text()).strip()
         if len(cache_dir) == 0 or os.path.exists(cache_dir) is False:
             invalid_cache = cache_dir
-            if False:
-                cache_dir = os.path.expanduser('~')
-            else:
-                cache_dir = os.getcwd()
+            cache_dir = os.path.expanduser('~')
             self.ui.lineEdit_cache.setText(cache_dir)
-            self._logWarning("Cache directory %s is not valid. "
-                             "Using current workspace directory %s as cache." %
-                             (invalid_cache, cache_dir))
+            if len(invalid_cache) == 0:
+                warning_msg = 'Cache directory is not set. '
+            else:
+                warning_msg = 'Cache directory {0} does not exist. '.format(invalid_cache)
+            warning_msg += 'Using {0} for caching dowloaded file instead.'.format(cache_dir)
+            print ('[WARNING] {0}'.format(warning_msg))
 
         # Get on hold of raw data file
         useserver = self.ui.radioButton_useServer.isChecked()
@@ -614,6 +614,7 @@ def doHelp(self):
                 mqt.MantidQt.API.MantidDesktopServices.openUrl(QtCore.QUrl(self.externalUrl))
         return
 
+    # flake8: noqa
     def doLoadData(self, exp=None, scan=None):
         """ Load and reduce data
         It does not support for tab 'Advanced Setup'
@@ -2141,7 +2142,7 @@ def _uiDownloadDataFile(self, exp, scan):
 
             filename = '%s_exp%04d_scan%04d.dat' % (self._instrument.upper(), exp, scan)
             srcFileName = os.path.join(cachedir, filename)
-            status, errmsg = urllib.downloadFile(fullurl, srcFileName)
+            status, errmsg = HfirPDReductionControl.downloadFile(fullurl, srcFileName)
             if status is False:
                 self._logError(errmsg)
                 srcFileName = None