diff --git a/youtube_dl/utils.py b/youtube_dl/utils.py
index 2a93d3e34a..1036ea9bd8 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/utils.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/utils.py
@@ -926,7 +926,11 @@ def _windows_write_string(s, out):
         2: -12,
     }
 
-    fileno = out.fileno()
+    try:
+        fileno = out.fileno()
+    except AttributeError:
+        # If the output stream doesn't have a fileno, it's virtual
+        return False
     if fileno not in WIN_OUTPUT_IDS:
         return False