diff --git a/youtube_dl/extractor/common.py b/youtube_dl/extractor/common.py
index 828f58f12..3d39781a4 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/extractor/common.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/extractor/common.py
@@ -885,7 +885,7 @@ def _extract_f4m_formats(self, manifest_url, video_id, preference=None, f4m_id=N
             fatal=fatal)
 
         if manifest is False:
-            return manifest
+            return []
 
         formats = []
         manifest_version = '1.0'
@@ -956,7 +956,7 @@ def _extract_m3u8_formats(self, m3u8_url, video_id, ext=None,
             errnote=errnote or 'Failed to download m3u8 information',
             fatal=fatal)
         if res is False:
-            return res
+            return []
         m3u8_doc, urlh = res
         m3u8_url = urlh.geturl()
         last_info = None