diff --git a/freqtrade/commands/data_commands.py b/freqtrade/commands/data_commands.py
index d4354e058..c529e8dc7 100644
--- a/freqtrade/commands/data_commands.py
+++ b/freqtrade/commands/data_commands.py
@@ -32,16 +32,13 @@ def start_download_data(args: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
     """
     from freqtrade.configuration import setup_utils_configuration
     from freqtrade.data.history import download_data_main
-    from freqtrade.resolvers.exchange_resolver import ExchangeResolver
 
     config = setup_utils_configuration(args, RunMode.UTIL_EXCHANGE)
 
     _check_data_config_download_sanity(config)
 
-    exchange = ExchangeResolver.load_exchange(config, validate=False)
-
     try:
-        download_data_main(config, exchange)
+        download_data_main(config)
 
     except KeyboardInterrupt:
         sys.exit("SIGINT received, aborting ...")
diff --git a/freqtrade/data/history/history_utils.py b/freqtrade/data/history/history_utils.py
index fb63e58d7..627959504 100644
--- a/freqtrade/data/history/history_utils.py
+++ b/freqtrade/data/history/history_utils.py
@@ -579,7 +579,18 @@ def validate_backtest_data(
     return found_missing
 
 
-def download_data_main(config: Config, exchange: Exchange) -> None:
+def download_data_main(config: Config) -> None:
+    from freqtrade.resolvers.exchange_resolver import ExchangeResolver
+
+    exchange = ExchangeResolver.load_exchange(config, validate=False)
+
+    download_data(config, exchange)
+
+
+def download_data(config: Config, exchange: Exchange) -> None:
+    """
+    Download data function. Used from both cli and API.
+    """
     timerange = TimeRange()
     if "days" in config:
         time_since = (datetime.now() - timedelta(days=config["days"])).strftime("%Y%m%d")