diff --git a/youtube_dl/downloader/external.py b/youtube_dl/downloader/external.py
index e78169a0d..db018fa89 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/downloader/external.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/downloader/external.py
@@ -212,6 +212,11 @@ def _call_downloader(self, tmpfilename, info_dict):
 
         args = [ffpp.executable, '-y']
 
+        for log_level in ('quiet', 'verbose'):
+            if self.params.get(log_level, False):
+                args += ['-loglevel', log_level]
+                break
+
         seekable = info_dict.get('_seekable')
         if seekable is not None:
             # setting -seekable prevents ffmpeg from guessing if the server