diff --git a/youtube_dl/downloader/f4m.py b/youtube_dl/downloader/f4m.py
index 314def4cb0..8f88b02414 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/downloader/f4m.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/downloader/f4m.py
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ def real_download(self, filename, info_dict):
         doc = compat_etree_fromstring(manifest)
         formats = [(int(f.attrib.get('bitrate', -1)), f)
                    for f in self._get_unencrypted_media(doc)]
-        if requested_bitrate is None:
+        if requested_bitrate is None or len(formats) == 1:
             # get the best format
             formats = sorted(formats, key=lambda f: f[0])
             rate, media = formats[-1]