diff --git a/bench/exo_bench.py b/bench/exo_bench.py
index f6fcd342..e60d0872 100644
--- a/bench/exo_bench.py
+++ b/bench/exo_bench.py
@@ -338,7 +338,7 @@ def main() -> int:
     )
 
     logger.info("Planning phase: checking downloads...")
-    run_planning_phase(
+    download_duration_s = run_planning_phase(
         client,
         full_model_id,
         selected[0],
@@ -346,6 +346,10 @@ def main() -> int:
         args.timeout,
         settle_deadline,
     )
+    if download_duration_s is not None:
+        logger.info(f"Download: {download_duration_s:.1f}s (freshly downloaded)")
+    else:
+        logger.info("Download: model already cached")
 
     all_rows: list[dict[str, Any]] = []
 
@@ -409,6 +413,11 @@ def main() -> int:
                             "pp_tokens": actual_pp_tokens,
                             "tg": tg,
                             "repeat_index": r,
+                            **(
+                                {"download_duration_s": download_duration_s}
+                                if download_duration_s is not None
+                                else {}
+                            ),
                         }
                     )
                     runs.append(row)
diff --git a/bench/harness.py b/bench/harness.py
index 58aa8435..263c8e91 100644
--- a/bench/harness.py
+++ b/bench/harness.py
@@ -289,8 +289,12 @@ def run_planning_phase(
     danger_delete: bool,
     timeout: float,
     settle_deadline: float | None,
-) -> None:
-    """Check disk space and ensure model is downloaded before benchmarking."""
+) -> float | None:
+    """Check disk space and ensure model is downloaded before benchmarking.
+
+    Returns the wall-clock download duration in seconds if a fresh download
+    was needed, or None if the model was already cached on all nodes.
+    """
     # Get model size from /models
     models = client.request_json("GET", "/models") or {}
     model_bytes = 0
@@ -303,7 +307,7 @@ def run_planning_phase(
         logger.warning(
             f"Could not determine size for {full_model_id}, skipping disk check"
         )
-        return
+        return None
 
     # Get nodes from preview
     inner = unwrap_instance(preview["instance"])
@@ -314,6 +318,8 @@ def run_planning_phase(
     downloads = state.get("downloads", {})
     node_disk = state.get("nodeDisk", {})
 
+    needs_download = False
+
     for node_id in node_ids:
         node_downloads = downloads.get(node_id, [])
 
@@ -329,6 +335,8 @@ def run_planning_phase(
         if already_downloaded:
             continue
 
+        needs_download = True
+
         # Wait for disk info if settle_deadline is set
         disk_info = node_disk.get(node_id, {})
         backoff = _SETTLE_INITIAL_BACKOFF_S
@@ -379,6 +387,7 @@ def run_planning_phase(
             raise RuntimeError(f"Could not free enough space on {node_id}")
 
     # Start downloads (idempotent)
+    download_t0 = time.perf_counter() if needs_download else None
     for node_id in node_ids:
         runner_id = inner["shardAssignments"]["nodeToRunner"][node_id]
         shard = runner_to_shard[runner_id]
@@ -421,7 +430,9 @@ def run_planning_phase(
             if not done:
                 all_done = False
         if all_done:
-            return
+            if download_t0 is not None:
+                return time.perf_counter() - download_t0
+            return None
         time.sleep(1)
 
     raise TimeoutError("Downloads did not complete in time")