diff --git a/yt_dlp/utils/_utils.py b/yt_dlp/utils/_utils.py
index 95c521be10..2ec697b100 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/utils/_utils.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/utils/_utils.py
@@ -4478,7 +4478,7 @@ def decode_packed_codes(code):
         symbol_table[base_n_count] = symbols[count] or base_n_count
 
     return re.sub(
-        r'\b(\w+)\b', lambda mobj: symbol_table[mobj.group(0)],
+        r'\b(\w+)\b', lambda m: symbol_table.get(m.group(0), m.group(0)),
         obfuscated_code)