diff --git a/options/options.c b/options/options.c
index 08ee420bd1..f59f1356c0 100644
--- a/options/options.c
+++ b/options/options.c
@@ -691,7 +691,7 @@ const struct MPOpts mp_default_opts = {
 #if HAVE_LUA
     .lua_load_osc = 1,
     .lua_load_ytdl = 1,
-    .lua_ytdl_format = NULL,
+    .lua_ytdl_format = "best",
     .lua_ytdl_raw_options = NULL,
 #endif
     .auto_load_scripts = 1,