diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 37715b863..b28312450 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 - jsonrpc: add python API for webxdc updates #3872
 - jsonrpc: add fresh message count to ChatListItemFetchResult::ArchiveLink
 - Add ffi functions to retrieve `verified by` information #3786
+- resultify `Message::get_filebytes()` #3925
 
 ### Fixes
 - Do not add an error if the message is encrypted but not signed #3860
diff --git a/deltachat-ffi/src/lib.rs b/deltachat-ffi/src/lib.rs
index 764f1acad..7de6e4cd8 100644
--- a/deltachat-ffi/src/lib.rs
+++ b/deltachat-ffi/src/lib.rs
@@ -3309,6 +3309,8 @@ pub unsafe extern "C" fn dc_msg_get_filebytes(msg: *mut dc_msg_t) -> u64 {
     let ctx = &*ffi_msg.context;
 
     block_on(ffi_msg.message.get_filebytes(ctx))
+        .unwrap_or_log_default(ctx, "Cannot get file size")
+        .unwrap_or_default()
 }
 
 #[no_mangle]
diff --git a/deltachat-jsonrpc/src/api/types/message.rs b/deltachat-jsonrpc/src/api/types/message.rs
index c7e9cfe8d..0f35f0c6f 100644
--- a/deltachat-jsonrpc/src/api/types/message.rs
+++ b/deltachat-jsonrpc/src/api/types/message.rs
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ impl MessageObject {
 
         let sender_contact = Contact::load_from_db(context, message.get_from_id()).await?;
         let sender = ContactObject::try_from_dc_contact(context, sender_contact).await?;
-        let file_bytes = message.get_filebytes(context).await;
+        let file_bytes = message.get_filebytes(context).await?.unwrap_or_default();
         let override_sender_name = message.get_override_sender_name();
 
         let webxdc_info = if message.get_viewtype() == Viewtype::Webxdc {
diff --git a/src/chat.rs b/src/chat.rs
index d22cec77d..618319cb1 100644
--- a/src/chat.rs
+++ b/src/chat.rs
@@ -5202,7 +5202,7 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(msg.get_filename(), Some(filename.to_string()));
         assert_eq!(msg.get_width(), w);
         assert_eq!(msg.get_height(), h);
-        assert!(msg.get_filebytes(&bob).await > 250);
+        assert!(msg.get_filebytes(&bob).await?.unwrap() > 250);
 
         Ok(())
     }
diff --git a/src/message.rs b/src/message.rs
index 5535666bd..b1581137f 100644
--- a/src/message.rs
+++ b/src/message.rs
@@ -494,11 +494,12 @@ impl Message {
             .map(|name| name.to_string_lossy().to_string())
     }
 
-    pub async fn get_filebytes(&self, context: &Context) -> u64 {
-        match self.param.get_path(Param::File, context) {
-            Ok(Some(path)) => get_filebytes(context, &path).await,
-            Ok(None) => 0,
-            Err(_) => 0,
+    /// Returns the size of the file in bytes, if applicable.
+    pub async fn get_filebytes(&self, context: &Context) -> Result<Option<u64>> {
+        if let Some(path) = self.param.get_path(Param::File, context)? {
+            Ok(Some(get_filebytes(context, &path).await?))
+        } else {
+            Ok(None)
         }
     }
 
@@ -1102,7 +1103,7 @@ pub async fn get_msg_info(context: &Context, msg_id: MsgId) -> Result<String> {
     }
 
     if let Some(path) = msg.get_file(context) {
-        let bytes = get_filebytes(context, &path).await;
+        let bytes = get_filebytes(context, &path).await?;
         ret += &format!("\nFile: {}, {}, bytes\n", path.display(), bytes);
     }
 
diff --git a/src/mimefactory.rs b/src/mimefactory.rs
index 43f3e5886..5d7d51fe8 100644
--- a/src/mimefactory.rs
+++ b/src/mimefactory.rs
@@ -1432,7 +1432,7 @@ fn recipients_contain_addr(recipients: &[(String, String)], addr: &str) -> bool
 async fn is_file_size_okay(context: &Context, msg: &Message) -> Result<bool> {
     match msg.param.get_path(Param::File, context)? {
         Some(path) => {
-            let bytes = get_filebytes(context, &path).await;
+            let bytes = get_filebytes(context, &path).await?;
             Ok(bytes <= UPPER_LIMIT_FILE_SIZE)
         }
         None => Ok(false),
diff --git a/src/mimeparser.rs b/src/mimeparser.rs
index e7a2ea40e..c83709673 100644
--- a/src/mimeparser.rs
+++ b/src/mimeparser.rs
@@ -3145,7 +3145,7 @@ On 2020-10-25, Bob wrote:
         assert_eq!(msg.is_dc_message, MessengerMessage::No);
         assert_eq!(msg.chat_blocked, Blocked::Request);
         assert_eq!(msg.state, MessageState::InFresh);
-        assert_eq!(msg.get_filebytes(&t).await, 2115);
+        assert_eq!(msg.get_filebytes(&t).await.unwrap().unwrap(), 2115);
         assert!(msg.get_file(&t).is_some());
         assert_eq!(msg.get_filename().unwrap(), "avatar64x64.png");
         assert_eq!(msg.get_width(), 64);
diff --git a/src/tools.rs b/src/tools.rs
index b02ed2fea..e9c34f5e1 100644
--- a/src/tools.rs
+++ b/src/tools.rs
@@ -364,12 +364,10 @@ pub(crate) fn get_abs_path(context: &Context, path: impl AsRef<Path>) -> PathBuf
     }
 }
 
-pub(crate) async fn get_filebytes(context: &Context, path: impl AsRef<Path>) -> u64 {
+pub(crate) async fn get_filebytes(context: &Context, path: impl AsRef<Path>) -> Result<u64> {
     let path_abs = get_abs_path(context, &path);
-    match fs::metadata(&path_abs).await {
-        Ok(meta) => meta.len(),
-        Err(_err) => 0,
-    }
+    let meta = fs::metadata(&path_abs).await?;
+    Ok(meta.len())
 }
 
 pub(crate) async fn delete_file(context: &Context, path: impl AsRef<Path>) -> bool {
@@ -1055,7 +1053,7 @@ DKIM Results: Passed=true, Works=true, Allow_Keychange=true";
             .is_ok());
         assert!(file_exist!(context, "$BLOBDIR/foobar"));
         assert!(!file_exist!(context, "$BLOBDIR/foobarx"));
-        assert_eq!(get_filebytes(context, "$BLOBDIR/foobar").await, 7);
+        assert_eq!(get_filebytes(context, "$BLOBDIR/foobar").await.unwrap(), 7);
 
         let abs_path = context
             .get_blobdir()