diff --git a/yt_dlp/utils.py b/yt_dlp/utils.py
index 2c3ab00dc..be93b0ef2 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/utils.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/utils.py
@@ -4731,7 +4731,7 @@ def determine_protocol(info_dict):
     if protocol is not None:
         return protocol
 
-    url = info_dict['url']
+    url = sanitize_url(info_dict['url'])
     if url.startswith('rtmp'):
         return 'rtmp'
     elif url.startswith('mms'):