diff --git a/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py b/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py
index 8e11646d3..d066efdc7 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py
@@ -4242,7 +4242,7 @@ class YoutubeDL:
             self.write_debug(f'Skipping writing {label} thumbnail')
             return ret
 
-        if not self._ensure_dir_exists(filename):
+        if thumbnails and not self._ensure_dir_exists(filename):
             return None
 
         for idx, t in list(enumerate(thumbnails))[::-1]: