diff --git a/youtube_dl/extractor/lynda.py b/youtube_dl/extractor/lynda.py
index 3084c6dff..96d041502 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/extractor/lynda.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/extractor/lynda.py
@@ -247,7 +247,9 @@ class LyndaIE(LyndaBaseIE):
 
     def _get_subtitles(self, video_id):
         url = 'https://www.lynda.com/ajax/player?videoId=%s&type=transcript' % video_id
-        subs = self._download_json(url, None, False)
+        subs = self._download_json(url, None, False, fatal=False)
+        if not subs:
+            return {}
         fixed_subs = self._fix_subtitles(subs)
         if fixed_subs:
             return {'en': [{'ext': 'srt', 'data': fixed_subs}]}