diff --git a/test/helper.py b/test/helper.py
index 2fa45631ad..fb8618120d 100644
--- a/test/helper.py
+++ b/test/helper.py
@@ -171,3 +171,13 @@ def assertGreaterEqual(self, got, expected, msg=None):
         if msg is None:
             msg = '%r not greater than or equal to %r' % (got, expected)
         self.assertTrue(got >= expected, msg)
+
+
+def expect_warnings(ydl, warnings_re):
+    real_warning = ydl.report_warning
+
+    def _report_warning(w):
+        if not any(re.search(w_re, w) for w_re in warnings_re):
+            real_warning(w)
+
+    ydl.report_warning = _report_warning
diff --git a/test/test_download.py b/test/test_download.py
index 8178015eac..608e4528ed 100644
--- a/test/test_download.py
+++ b/test/test_download.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 
 from test.helper import (
     assertGreaterEqual,
+    expect_warnings,
     get_params,
     gettestcases,
     expect_info_dict,
@@ -100,6 +101,7 @@ def _hook(status):
             if status['status'] == 'finished':
                 finished_hook_called.add(status['filename'])
         ydl.add_progress_hook(_hook)
+        expect_warnings(ydl, test_case.get('expected_warnings', []))
 
         def get_tc_filename(tc):
             return tc.get('file') or ydl.prepare_filename(tc.get('info_dict', {}))
diff --git a/youtube_dl/extractor/generic.py b/youtube_dl/extractor/generic.py
index 51dbbc8db1..52f286ac6e 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/extractor/generic.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/extractor/generic.py
@@ -389,8 +389,23 @@ class GenericIE(InfoExtractor):
                 'title': 'Conversation about Hexagonal Rails Part 1 - ThoughtWorks',
                 'duration': 1715.0,
                 'uploader': 'thoughtworks.wistia.com',
-            },   
+            },
         },
+        # Direct download with broken HEAD
+        {
+            'url': 'http://ai-radio.org:8000/radio.opus',
+            'info_dict': {
+                'id': 'radio',
+                'ext': 'opus',
+                'title': 'radio',
+            },
+            'params': {
+                'skip_download': True,  # infinite live stream
+            },
+            'expected_warnings': [
+                r'501.*Not Implemented'
+            ],
+        }
     ]
 
     def report_following_redirect(self, new_url):