diff --git a/youtube_dl/extractor/youtube.py b/youtube_dl/extractor/youtube.py
index b34c1a7b9..23ee24d70 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/extractor/youtube.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/extractor/youtube.py
@@ -484,6 +484,8 @@ class YoutubeIE(InfoExtractor):
 
         try:
             mobj = re.search(r';ytplayer.config = ({.*?});', video_webpage)
+            if not mobj:
+                raise ValueError('Could not find vevo ID')
             info = json.loads(mobj.group(1))
             args = info['args']
             # Easy way to know if the 's' value is in url_encoded_fmt_stream_map