diff --git a/file_entity.file_api.inc b/file_entity.file_api.inc
index 339d91f..88f2771 100644
--- a/file_entity.file_api.inc
+++ b/file_entity.file_api.inc
@@ -308,16 +308,22 @@ function file_view_file($file, $displays = 'full', $langcode = NULL) {
     }
   }
 
-  // If a render element was returned by a formatter or the file type's default
-  // view callback, add some defaults to it and return it.
-  if (isset($element)) {
-    $element += array(
+  // As a last resort, fall back to showing a link to the file.
+  if (! isset($element)) {
+    $element = array(
+      '#theme' => 'file_link',
       '#file' => $file,
-      '#view_mode' => $view_mode,
-      '#language' => $langcode,
     );
-    return $element;
   }
+
+  // Add defaults and return the element.
+  $element += array(
+    '#file' => $file,
+    '#view_mode' => $view_mode,
+    '#language' => $langcode,
+  );
+
+  return $element;
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/file_entity.module b/file_entity.module
index 8930149..d404aba 100644
--- a/file_entity.module
+++ b/file_entity.module
@@ -77,6 +77,10 @@ function file_entity_help($path, $arg) {
     case 'admin/structure/file-types':
       $output = '<p>' . t('When a file is uploaded to this website, it is assigned one of the following types, based on what kind of file it is.') . '</p>';
       return $output;
+    case 'admin/structure/file-types/manage/%/display/preview':
+    case 'admin/structure/file-types/manage/%/file-display/preview':
+      drupal_set_message(t('Some modules rely on the Preview view mode to function correctly. Changing these settings may break parts of your site.'), 'warning');
+      break;
   }
 }
 
@@ -351,10 +355,21 @@ function file_entity_entity_info_alter(&$entity_info) {
   $entity_info['file']['entity keys']['bundle'] = 'type';
   $entity_info['file']['bundles'] = array();
   $entity_info['file']['uri callback'] = 'file_entity_uri';
-  $entity_info['file']['view modes']['full'] = array(
-    'label' => t('Full'),
-    'custom settings' => FALSE,
+  $entity_info['file']['view modes'] += array(
+    'teaser' => array(
+      'label' => t('Teaser'),
+      'custom settings' => TRUE,
+    ),
+    'full' => array(
+      'label' => t('Full content'),
+      'custom settings' => FALSE,
+    ),
+    'preview' => array(
+      'label' => t('Preview'),
+      'custom settings' => TRUE,
+    ),
   );
+
   foreach (file_info_file_types() as $type => $info) {
     $info += array(
       // Provide a default administration path for Field UI, but not if 'admin'
diff --git a/file_entity.pages.inc b/file_entity.pages.inc
index ee58c90..8f7055e 100644
--- a/file_entity.pages.inc
+++ b/file_entity.pages.inc
@@ -230,11 +230,7 @@ function file_entity_edit($form, &$form_state, $file) {
     );
   }
 
-  $form['preview'] = array(
-    '#theme' => 'file_link',
-    '#file' => $file,
-    '#weight' => -5,
-  );
+  $form['preview'] = file_view_file($file, 'preview');
 
   // Add the buttons.
   $form['actions'] = array('#type' => 'actions');