diff --git a/youtube_dl/extractor/lynda.py b/youtube_dl/extractor/lynda.py
index 1b6f5091d3..0d6026aadd 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/extractor/lynda.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/extractor/lynda.py
@@ -244,8 +244,9 @@ 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)
-        if subs:
-            return {'en': [{'ext': 'srt', 'data': self._fix_subtitles(subs)}]}
+        fixed_subs = self._fix_subtitles(subs)
+        if fixed_subs:
+            return {'en': [{'ext': 'srt', 'data': fixed_subs}]}
         else:
             return {}