diff --git a/youtube_dl/__init__.py b/youtube_dl/__init__.py
index e1bd67919..509c608e3 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/__init__.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/__init__.py
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ def _real_main(argv=None):
             'key': 'EmbedThumbnail',
             'already_have_thumbnail': already_have_thumbnail
         })
-        if not already_have_thumbnail:
+        if not already_have_thumbnail and not opts.skip_download:
             opts.writethumbnail = True
     # XAttrMetadataPP should be run after post-processors that may change file
     # contents