diff --git a/youtube_dl/extractor/facebook.py b/youtube_dl/extractor/facebook.py
index ef195a891..2318cf4c7 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/extractor/facebook.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/extractor/facebook.py
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ class FacebookIE(InfoExtractor):
                 video_id, transform_source=js_to_json, fatal=False)
             video_data = extract_from_jsmods_instances(server_js_data)
 
-        tahoe_secondary_data = ''
+
         if not video_data:
             if not fatal_if_no_video:
                 return webpage, False
@@ -396,7 +396,9 @@ class FacebookIE(InfoExtractor):
                 data=tahoe_request_data,
                 headers=tahoe_request_headers, fatal=False
             )
-
+            if not tahoe_secondary_data:
+                tahoe_secondary_data = ''
+                
             tahoe_js_data = self._parse_json(
                 self._search_regex(
                     r'for\s+\(\s*;\s*;\s*\)\s*;(.+)', tahoe_primary_data,