diff --git a/devscripts/make_supportedsites.py b/devscripts/make_supportedsites.py
index 4c11e25f2..729f60a0e 100644
--- a/devscripts/make_supportedsites.py
+++ b/devscripts/make_supportedsites.py
@@ -24,10 +24,9 @@ def main():
     def gen_ies_md(ies):
         for ie in ies:
             ie_md = '**{0}**'.format(ie.IE_NAME)
-            ie_desc = getattr(ie, 'IE_DESC', None)
-            if ie_desc is False:
+            if ie.IE_DESC is False:
                 continue
-            if ie_desc is not None:
+            if ie.IE_DESC is not None:
                 ie_md += ': {0}'.format(ie.IE_DESC)
             search_key = getattr(ie, 'SEARCH_KEY', None)
             if search_key is not None:
diff --git a/yt_dlp/__init__.py b/yt_dlp/__init__.py
index a433c4513..a445d8621 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/__init__.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/__init__.py
@@ -94,9 +94,9 @@ def print_extractor_information(opts, urls):
         for ie in list_extractors(opts.age_limit):
             if not ie.working():
                 continue
-            desc = getattr(ie, 'IE_DESC', ie.IE_NAME)
-            if desc is False:
+            if ie.IE_DESC is False:
                 continue
+            desc = ie.IE_DESC or ie.IE_NAME
             if getattr(ie, 'SEARCH_KEY', None) is not None:
                 _SEARCHES = ('cute kittens', 'slithering pythons', 'falling cat', 'angry poodle', 'purple fish', 'running tortoise', 'sleeping bunny', 'burping cow')
                 _COUNTS = ('', '5', '10', 'all')
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/common.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/common.py
index e1a661033..a2e41db3b 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/common.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/common.py
@@ -469,6 +469,7 @@ class InfoExtractor(object):
     _GEO_IP_BLOCKS = None
     _WORKING = True
     _NETRC_MACHINE = None
+    IE_DESC = None
 
     _LOGIN_HINTS = {
         'any': 'Use --cookies, --cookies-from-browser, --username and --password, or --netrc to provide account credentials',