diff --git a/brozzler/model.py b/brozzler/model.py
index cebcf6c..6da2cb6 100644
--- a/brozzler/model.py
+++ b/brozzler/model.py
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ import urllib
 import uuid
 import yaml
 import zlib
+from enum import Enum
 from typing import Optional
 
 
@@ -191,6 +192,12 @@ class ElapsedMixIn(object):
         return dt
 
 
+class YTDLPStatus(Enum):
+    UNKNOWN = 0
+    SKIP = 1
+    CAPTURE = 2
+
+
 class Job(doublethink.Document, ElapsedMixIn):
     logger = logging.getLogger(__module__ + "." + __qualname__)
     table = "jobs"
@@ -236,7 +243,7 @@ class Site(doublethink.Document, ElapsedMixIn):
         if not "scope" in self:
             self.scope = {}
         if not "skip_ytdlp" in self:
-            self.skip_ytdlp = False
+            self.skip_ytdlp = YTDLPStatus.UNKNOWN
 
         # backward compatibility
         if "surt" in self.scope:
diff --git a/brozzler/ydl.py b/brozzler/ydl.py
index 3d217c0..c787cf0 100644
--- a/brozzler/ydl.py
+++ b/brozzler/ydl.py
@@ -53,10 +53,11 @@ def _timestamp4datetime(timestamp):
 
 def should_ytdlp(site, page, skip_av_seeds):
     # called only after we've passed needs_browsing() check
+    from .model import YTDLPStatus
     if page.status_code != 200:
         logging.info("skipping ytdlp: non-200 page status")
         return False
-    if site.skip_ytdlp:
+    if site.skip_ytdlp == "SKIP":
         logging.info("skipping ytdlp: site marked skip_ytdlp")
         return False
 
@@ -72,11 +73,14 @@ def should_ytdlp(site, page, skip_av_seeds):
     )
 
     # TODO: develop UI and refactor
-    if ytdlp_seed and ytdlp_seed in skip_av_seeds:
-        logging.info("skipping ytdlp: site in skip_av_seeds")
-        site.skip_ytdlp = True
-        return False
-    
+    if ytdlp_seed
+        if site.skip_ytdlp == "UNKNOWN" and ytdlp_seed in skip_av_seeds:
+            logging.info("skipping ytdlp: site in skip_av_seeds")
+            site.skip_ytdlp = YTDLPStatus.SKIP
+            return False
+        else:
+            site.skip_ytdlp = YTDLPStatus.CAPTURE
+
     logging.info("checking containing page %s for seed %s", ytdlp_url, ytdlp_seed)
 
     if ytdlp_seed and "youtube.com/watch?v" in ytdlp_url: