diff --git a/youtube_dl/extractor/youtube.py b/youtube_dl/extractor/youtube.py
index 42441d9fa4..faac98ce08 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/extractor/youtube.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/extractor/youtube.py
@@ -934,7 +934,7 @@ class YoutubeIE(YoutubeBaseInfoExtractor, SubtitlesInfoExtractor):
                 'url': video_info['conn'][0],
                 'player_url': player_url,
             }]
-        elif len(video_info.get('url_encoded_fmt_stream_map', [])) >= 1 or len(video_info.get('adaptive_fmts', [])) >= 1:
+        elif len(video_info.get('url_encoded_fmt_stream_map', [''])[0]) >= 1 or len(video_info.get('adaptive_fmts', [''])[0]) >= 1:
             encoded_url_map = video_info.get('url_encoded_fmt_stream_map', [''])[0] + ',' + video_info.get('adaptive_fmts', [''])[0]
             if 'rtmpe%3Dyes' in encoded_url_map:
                 raise ExtractorError('rtmpe downloads are not supported, see https://github.com/rg3/youtube-dl/issues/343 for more information.', expected=True)