diff --git a/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py b/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py
index 67ef2ffa5..1c3f9ba1e 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py
@@ -3051,9 +3051,11 @@ class YoutubeDL(object):
                                 'while also allowing unplayable formats to be downloaded. '
                                 'The formats won\'t be merged to prevent data corruption.')
                         elif not merger.available:
-                            self.report_warning(
-                                'You have requested merging of multiple formats but ffmpeg is not installed. '
-                                'The formats won\'t be merged.')
+                            msg = 'You have requested merging of multiple formats but ffmpeg is not installed'
+                            if not self.params.get('ignoreerrors'):
+                                self.report_error(f'{msg}. Aborting due to --abort-on-error')
+                                return
+                            self.report_warning(f'{msg}. The formats won\'t be merged')
 
                         if temp_filename == '-':
                             reason = ('using a downloader other than ffmpeg' if FFmpegFD.can_merge_formats(info_dict, self.params)