diff --git a/youtube_dl/postprocessor/ffmpeg.py b/youtube_dl/postprocessor/ffmpeg.py
index e293e03e6..7e85a702d 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/postprocessor/ffmpeg.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/postprocessor/ffmpeg.py
@@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ def run(self, info):
             options.extend(['-metadata', '%s=%s' % (name, value)])
 
         # https://github.com/rg3/youtube-dl/issues/8350
-        if info['protocol'] == 'm3u8_native' or self._downloader.params.get('hls_prefer_native', False):
+        if info.get('protocol') == 'm3u8_native' or self._downloader.params.get('hls_prefer_native', False):
             options.extend(['-bsf:a', 'aac_adtstoasc'])
 
         self._downloader.to_screen('[ffmpeg] Adding metadata to \'%s\'' % filename)