diff --git a/yt_dlp/__init__.py b/yt_dlp/__init__.py
index db77ee39b..ee873e00c 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/__init__.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/__init__.py
@@ -403,6 +403,8 @@ def validate_options(opts):
 
     default_downloader = None
     for proto, path in opts.external_downloader.items():
+        if path == 'native':
+            continue
         ed = get_external_downloader(path)
         if ed is None:
             raise ValueError(