diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/geocode.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/geocode.rs
index c9ffb6b7e..feb9b033e 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/geocode.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/geocode.rs
@@ -63,6 +63,13 @@ impl PlaceNames {
         self.lock().running
     }
 
+    /// Whether a place names download has been started in this session (running, or ended).
+    #[cfg(test)]
+    pub(crate) fn download_started(&self) -> bool {
+        let sh = self.lock();
+        sh.running || sh.last.is_some()
+    }
+
     /// The gazetteer in `dir`, parsed once and re-read only when the cities file's size or time changes.
     fn load(&mut self, dir: &Path) -> std::result::Result<Arc<GeoNames>, lightcraft_geocode::GeocodeError> {
         let file = dir.join(GEONAMES_FILES[0]);
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/tests.rs b/crates/engine/src/tests.rs
index 1e8f4b7e3..5a1d705ba 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/tests.rs
@@ -452,8 +452,14 @@ fn command_sweep() {
     for c in command_specs() {
         assert!(ids.insert(c.id), "duplicate {}", c.id);
         assert!(!c.label.is_empty() && !c.params.is_empty(), "{}", c.id);
+        // empty params make this one download from download.geonames.org into the real settings folder; its own tests run it against a loopback server
+        if c.id == "metadata.downloadPlaceNames" {
+            continue;
+        }
         let _ = s.execute(c.id, &Value::Null);
     }
+    // empty params must never start a download from the internet
+    assert!(!s.place_names.download_started(), "the sweep started a place names download");
     assert!(s.commands().len() >= 70, "{}", s.commands().len());
 }