diff --git a/youtube_dl/extractor/vimeo.py b/youtube_dl/extractor/vimeo.py
index c5ee84807d..ec6aad5920 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/extractor/vimeo.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/extractor/vimeo.py
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ class VimeoIE(SubtitlesInfoExtractor):
 
         # Extract video thumbnail
         video_thumbnail = config["video"].get("thumbnail")
-        if video_thumbnail is None:
+        if video_thumbnail is None and config["video"].get("thumbs"):
             _, video_thumbnail = sorted((int(width), t_url) for (width, t_url) in config["video"]["thumbs"].items())[-1]
 
         # Extract video description