diff --git a/youtube-dl b/youtube-dl
index 22b9eba179..8f895a5cbe 100755
--- a/youtube-dl
+++ b/youtube-dl
@@ -947,7 +947,6 @@ class YoutubeIE(InfoExtractor):
 
 		# Decide which formats to download
 		req_format = self._downloader.params.get('format', None)
-		get_video_template = 'http://www.youtube.com/get_video?video_id=%s&t=%s&eurl=&el=&ps=&asv=&fmt=%%s' % (video_id, video_token)
 
 		if 'fmt_url_map' in video_info:
 			url_map = dict(tuple(pair.split('|')) for pair in video_info['fmt_url_map'][0].split(','))
@@ -965,10 +964,11 @@ class YoutubeIE(InfoExtractor):
 			elif req_format == '-1':
 				video_url_list = [(f, url_map[f]) for f in existing_formats] # All formats
 			else:
-				if req_format in url_map:
-					video_url_list = [(req_format, url_map[req_format])] # Specific format
-				else:
-					video_url_list = [(req_format, get_video_template % req_format)] # Specific format
+				# Specific format
+				if req_format not in url_map:
+					self._downloader.trouble(u'ERROR: requested format not available')
+					return
+				video_url_list = [(req_format, url_map[req_format])] # Specific format
 
 		elif 'conn' in video_info and video_info['conn'][0].startswith('rtmp'):
 			self.report_rtmp_download()
@@ -1002,7 +1002,7 @@ class YoutubeIE(InfoExtractor):
 					'player_url':	player_url,
 				})
 			except UnavailableVideoError, err:
-				self._downloader.trouble(u'ERROR: unable to download video (format may not be available)')
+				self._downloader.trouble(u'ERROR: unable to download video')
 
 
 class MetacafeIE(InfoExtractor):