diff --git a/swh/counters/api/server.py b/swh/counters/api/server.py
--- a/swh/counters/api/server.py
+++ b/swh/counters/api/server.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 # See top-level LICENSE file for more information
 import logging
 import os
-from typing import Any, Dict
+from typing import Any, Dict, Optional
 
 from swh.core import config
 from swh.core.api import RPCServerApp
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
-app = None
+app: Optional[RPCServerApp] = None
 
 
 def make_app(config: Dict[str, Any]) -> RPCServerApp:
@@ -26,18 +26,23 @@
         backend_factory=lambda: get_counters(**config["counters"]),
     )
 
-    app.add_backend_class(
-        backend_class=HistoryInterface,
-        backend_factory=lambda: get_history(**config["history"]),
-    )
-
     handler = logging.StreamHandler()
     app.logger.addHandler(handler)
 
     app.config["counters"] = get_counters(**config["counters"])
 
+    if "history" in config:
+        app.add_backend_class(
+            backend_class=HistoryInterface,
+            backend_factory=lambda: get_history(**config["history"]),
+        )
+        app.config["history"] = get_history(**config["history"])
+
     app.add_url_rule("/", "index", index)
     app.add_url_rule("/metrics", "metrics", get_metrics)
+    app.add_url_rule(
+        "/counters_history/<filename>", "history", get_history_file_content
+    )
 
     return app
 
@@ -121,3 +126,8 @@
     response.append("")
 
     return "\n".join(response)
+
+
+def get_history_file_content(filename: str):
+    assert app is not None
+    return app.config["history"].get_history(filename)
diff --git a/swh/counters/tests/test_server.py b/swh/counters/tests/test_server.py
--- a/swh/counters/tests/test_server.py
+++ b/swh/counters/tests/test_server.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 # License: GNU General Public License version 3, or any later version
 # See top-level LICENSE file for more information
 
+import json
 import re
 from typing import Any, Dict
 
@@ -143,3 +144,36 @@
         )
         m = re.search(pattern, response)
         assert data[collection] == int(m.group(1))
+
+
+def test_server_counters_history(tmp_path, monkeypatch, mocker):
+    """Test the counters history file download"""
+
+    expected_result = {"content": [[1, 1], [2, 2]]}
+    mock = mocker.patch("swh.counters.history.History.get_history")
+    mock.return_value = expected_result
+
+    cfg = {
+        "counters": {"cls": "redis", "host": "redis:6379"},
+        "history": {
+            "cls": "prometheus",
+            "prometheus_host": "prometheus",
+            "prometheus_port": "9090",
+            "live_data_start": "0",
+            "cache_base_directory": "/tmp",
+        },
+    }
+    _environment_config_file(tmp_path, monkeypatch, cfg)
+
+    app = make_app_from_configfile()
+    app.config["TESTING"] = True
+    tc = app.test_client()
+
+    r = tc.get("/counters_history/test.json")
+
+    assert 200 == r.status_code
+
+    response = r.get_data().decode("utf-8")
+    response_json = json.loads(response)
+
+    assert response_json == expected_result