diff --git a/youtube_dl/extractor/vimeo.py b/youtube_dl/extractor/vimeo.py
index ec6aad592..10c3d992d 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/extractor/vimeo.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/extractor/vimeo.py
@@ -220,8 +220,10 @@ def _real_extract(self, url):
 
         # Extract video thumbnail
         video_thumbnail = config["video"].get("thumbnail")
-        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]
+        if video_thumbnail is None:
+            video_thumbs = config["video"].get("thumbs")
+            if video_thumbs and isinstance(video_thumbs, dict):
+                _, video_thumbnail = sorted((int(width), t_url) for (width, t_url) in video_thumbs.items())[-1]
 
         # Extract video description
         video_description = None