diff --git a/youtube_dl/downloader/http.py b/youtube_dl/downloader/http.py
index 8a6638cc2d..3ff26ff708 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/downloader/http.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/downloader/http.py
@@ -284,8 +284,7 @@ class HttpFD(FileDownloader):
         while count <= retries:
             try:
                 establish_connection()
-                download()
-                return True
+                return download()
             except RetryDownload as e:
                 count += 1
                 if count <= retries: