diff --git a/backend/src/api/skins_routes.py b/backend/src/api/skins_routes.py
index e014a078..903c214b 100644
--- a/backend/src/api/skins_routes.py
+++ b/backend/src/api/skins_routes.py
@@ -797,23 +797,25 @@ def get_thumbnail(
 _OWNER_HIDDEN_FILES = frozenset({"meta.json", "review_sheet.png", "name_preview.png"})
 
 
-@skins_router.get("/submissions/{submission_id}/files/{filename}")
+# The name is a query parameter: Cloudflare caches paths ending in .png by URL alone,
+# which would hand one response (a 401 or 404 included) to every later request.
+@skins_router.get("/submissions/{submission_id}/files")
 def owner_file(
     submission_id: str,
-    filename: str,
+    name: str,
     authorization: str | None = Header(default=None),
 ):
     """A texture or model the owner uploaded, for the 3D viewer on their skin's page."""
     session = _session_from_auth(authorization)
-    name = filename.lower()
-    if name in _OWNER_HIDDEN_FILES or not name.endswith(_OWNER_FILE_SUFFIXES):
+    lowered = name.lower()
+    if lowered in _OWNER_HIDDEN_FILES or not lowered.endswith(_OWNER_FILE_SUFFIXES):
         raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="File not found")
     if get_submission_for_owner(submission_id, session["player_uuid"]) is None:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="Submission not found")
-    path = _resolve_submission_file_safely(submission_id, filename)
+    path = _resolve_submission_file_safely(submission_id, name)
     if path is None:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="File not found")
-    media = "image/png" if name.endswith(".png") else "application/json"
+    media = "image/png" if lowered.endswith(".png") else "application/json"
     return FileResponse(path, media_type=media, headers={"Cache-Control": "private, max-age=300"})
 
 
diff --git a/backend/src/api/test_skin_owner_files.py b/backend/src/api/test_skin_owner_files.py
index 02c38db0..915c9cc9 100644
--- a/backend/src/api/test_skin_owner_files.py
+++ b/backend/src/api/test_skin_owner_files.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-"""GET /skins/submissions/{id}/files/{name} serves a skin's uploads to its owner only."""
+"""GET /skins/submissions/{id}/files?name= serves a skin's uploads to its owner only."""
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
diff --git a/frontend/lib/skins/api.ts b/frontend/lib/skins/api.ts
index d8e3b06d..4b868790 100644
--- a/frontend/lib/skins/api.ts
+++ b/frontend/lib/skins/api.ts
@@ -431,7 +431,7 @@ export async function getSkinThumbnail(id: string, sessionToken: string): Promis
 /** One of the owner's uploaded textures or models, or null when the skin has no such file. */
 export async function getSubmissionFile(id: string, filename: string, sessionToken: string): Promise<File | null> {
   const res = await apiFetch(
-    `${getApiBase()}/skins/submissions/${encodeURIComponent(id)}/files/${encodeURIComponent(filename)}`,
+    `${getApiBase()}/skins/submissions/${encodeURIComponent(id)}/files?name=${encodeURIComponent(filename)}`,
     { headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${sessionToken}` } },
   );
   if (!res.ok) return null;