diff --git a/core/modules/file/file.api.php b/core/modules/file/file.api.php
index 72aae40c9b1..7f20d83f852 100644
--- a/core/modules/file/file.api.php
+++ b/core/modules/file/file.api.php
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@
  * file is referenced, e.g., only users with access to a node should be allowed
  * to download files attached to that node.
  *
- * @param array $file_item
- *   The array of information about the file to check access for.
+ * @param $field
+ *   The field to which the file belongs.
  * @param $entity_type
  *   The type of $entity; for example, 'node' or 'user'.
  * @param $entity
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
  *
  * @see hook_field_access().
  */
-function hook_file_download_access($file_item, $entity_type, $entity) {
+function hook_file_download_access($field, $entity_type, $entity) {
   if ($entity_type == 'node') {
     return node_access('view', $entity);
   }
@@ -45,8 +45,8 @@ function hook_file_download_access($file_item, $entity_type, $entity) {
  *   An array of grants gathered by hook_file_download_access(). The array is
  *   keyed by the module that defines the entity type's access control; the
  *   values are Boolean grant responses for each module.
- * @param array $file_item
- *   The array of information about the file to alter access for.
+ * @param $field
+ *   The field to which the file belongs.
  * @param $entity_type
  *   The type of $entity; for example, 'node' or 'user'.
  * @param $entity
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ function hook_file_download_access($file_item, $entity_type, $entity) {
  *   module's value in addition to other grants or to overwrite the values set
  *   by other modules.
  */
-function hook_file_download_access_alter(&$grants, $file_item, $entity_type, $entity) {
+function hook_file_download_access_alter(&$grants, $field, $entity_type, $entity) {
   // For our example module, we always enforce the rules set by node module.
   if (isset($grants['node'])) {
     $grants = array('node' => $grants['node']);
diff --git a/core/modules/file/file.module b/core/modules/file/file.module
index 485639b04d4..c9518074221 100644
--- a/core/modules/file/file.module
+++ b/core/modules/file/file.module
@@ -164,27 +164,24 @@ function file_file_download($uri, $field_type = 'file') {
         // Try to load $entity and $field.
         $entity = entity_load($entity_type, array($id));
         $entity = reset($entity);
-        $field = field_info_field($field_name);
-
-        // Load the field item that references the file.
-        $field_item = NULL;
+        $field = NULL;
         if ($entity) {
-          // Load all field items for that entity.
+          // Load all fields for that entity.
           $field_items = field_get_items($entity_type, $entity, $field_name);
 
           // Find the field item with the matching URI.
-          foreach ($field_items as $item) {
-            if ($item['uri'] == $uri) {
-              $field_item = $item;
+          foreach ($field_items as $field_item) {
+            if ($field_item['uri'] == $uri) {
+              $field = field_info_field($field_name);
               break;
             }
           }
         }
 
-        // Check that $entity, $field and $field_item were loaded successfully
-        // and check if access to that field is not disallowed. If any of these
-        // checks fail, stop checking access for this reference.
-        if (empty($entity) || empty($field) || empty($field_item) || !field_access('view', $field, $entity_type, $entity)) {
+        // Check that $entity and $field were loaded successfully and check if
+        // access to that field is not disallowed. If any of these checks fail,
+        // stop checking access for this reference.
+        if (empty($entity) || empty($field) || !field_access('view', $field, $entity_type, $entity)) {
           $denied = TRUE;
           break;
         }
diff --git a/core/modules/file/tests/file.test b/core/modules/file/tests/file.test
index 7c776d3b4be..538118a0f2a 100644
--- a/core/modules/file/tests/file.test
+++ b/core/modules/file/tests/file.test
@@ -1123,7 +1123,7 @@ class FilePrivateTestCase extends FileFieldTestCase {
   }
 
   function setUp() {
-    parent::setUp(array('node_access_test', 'field_test'));
+    parent::setUp('node_access_test');
     node_access_rebuild();
     variable_set('node_access_test_private', TRUE);
   }
@@ -1140,10 +1140,6 @@ class FilePrivateTestCase extends FileFieldTestCase {
     $field_name = strtolower($this->randomName());
     $this->createFileField($field_name, $type_name, array('uri_scheme' => 'private'));
 
-    // Create a field with no view access - see field_test_field_access().
-    $no_access_field_name = 'field_no_view_access';
-    $this->createFileField($no_access_field_name, $type_name, array('uri_scheme' => 'private'));
-
     $test_file = $this->getTestFile('text');
     $nid = $this->uploadNodeFile($test_file, $field_name, $type_name, TRUE, array('private' => TRUE));
     $node = node_load($nid, NULL, TRUE);
@@ -1154,14 +1150,5 @@ class FilePrivateTestCase extends FileFieldTestCase {
     $this->drupalLogOut();
     $this->drupalGet(file_create_url($node_file->uri));
     $this->assertResponse(403, t('Confirmed that access is denied for the file without the needed permission.'));
-
-    // Test with the field that should deny access through field access.
-    $this->drupalLogin($this->admin_user);
-    $nid = $this->uploadNodeFile($test_file, $no_access_field_name, $type_name, TRUE, array('private' => TRUE));
-    $node = node_load($nid, NULL, TRUE);
-    $node_file = (object) $node->{$no_access_field_name}[LANGUAGE_NONE][0];
-    // Ensure the file cannot be downloaded.
-    $this->drupalGet(file_create_url($node_file->uri));
-    $this->assertResponse(403, t('Confirmed that access is denied for the file without view field access permission.'));
   }
 }