diff --git a/spacy/download.py b/spacy/download.py
index f7ece25e9..99280d7ed 100644
--- a/spacy/download.py
+++ b/spacy/download.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import pip
 import plac
 import requests
 from os import path
-from .link import link
+from .link import link, link_package
 from . import about
 from . import util
 
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ def download(model=None, direct=False):
         compatibility = get_compatibility()
         version = get_version(model_name, compatibility)
         download_model('{m}-{v}/{m}-{v}.tar.gz'.format(m=model_name, v=version))
-        link(model_name, model, force=True)
+        link_package(model_name, model, force=True)
 
 
 def get_compatibility():
diff --git a/spacy/link.py b/spacy/link.py
index fd81cac1a..abae83b46 100644
--- a/spacy/link.py
+++ b/spacy/link.py
@@ -18,17 +18,20 @@ def link(origin, link_name, force=False):
     """Create a symlink for models within the spacy/data directory. Accepts
     either the name of a pip package, or the local path to the model data
     directory. Linking models allows loading them via spacy.load(link_name)."""
-
     if is_package(origin):
-        package_path = site.getsitepackages()[0]
-        meta = get_meta(package_path, origin)
-        data_dir = origin + '-' + meta['version']
-        model_path = os.path.join(package_path, origin, data_dir)
-        symlink(model_path, link_name, force)
+        link_package(origin, link_name)
     else:
         symlink(origin, link_name, force)
 
 
+def link_package(origin, link_name, force=False):
+    package_path = site.getsitepackages()[0]
+    meta = get_meta(package_path, origin)
+    data_dir = origin + '-' + meta['version']
+    model_path = os.path.join(package_path, origin, data_dir)
+    symlink(model_path, link_name, force)
+
+
 def symlink(model_path, link_name, force):
     if not os.path.isdir(model_path):
         util.sys_exit(