diff --git a/youtube_dl/extractor/generic.py b/youtube_dl/extractor/generic.py
index 545e03371..cba0b4f49 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/extractor/generic.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/extractor/generic.py
@@ -2226,13 +2226,15 @@ class GenericIE(InfoExtractor):
         else:
             video_id = self._generic_id(url)
 
-        self.to_screen('%s: Requesting header' % video_id)
-
-        head_req = HEADRequest(url)
-        head_response = self._request_webpage(
-            head_req, video_id,
-            note=False, errnote='Could not send HEAD request to %s' % url,
-            fatal=False)
+        if self._downloader.params.get('skip_http_head') == None:
+            head_response = False
+        else:
+            self.to_screen('%s: Requesting header' % video_id)
+            head_req = HEADRequest(url)
+            head_response = self._request_webpage(
+                head_req, video_id,
+                note=False, errnote='Could not send HEAD request to %s' % url,
+                fatal=False)
 
         if head_response is not False:
             # Check for redirect