diff --git a/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py b/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py
index 92b802da6e..1efcfc2e4b 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py
@@ -672,6 +672,13 @@ class YoutubeDL:
         else:
             self.params['nooverwrites'] = not self.params['overwrites']
 
+        if self.params.get('simulate') is None and any((
+            self.params.get('list_thumbnails'),
+            self.params.get('listformats'),
+            self.params.get('listsubtitles'),
+        )):
+            self.params['simulate'] = 'list_only'
+
         self.params.setdefault('forceprint', {})
         self.params.setdefault('print_to_file', {})
 
@@ -2643,8 +2650,7 @@ class YoutubeDL:
         # The pre-processors may have modified the formats
         formats = self._get_formats(info_dict)
 
-        list_only = self.params.get('simulate') is None and (
-            self.params.get('list_thumbnails') or self.params.get('listformats') or self.params.get('listsubtitles'))
+        list_only = self.params.get('simulate') == 'list_only'
         interactive_format_selection = not list_only and self.format_selector == '-'
         if self.params.get('list_thumbnails'):
             self.list_thumbnails(info_dict)