diff --git a/gallery_dl/downloader/ytdl.py b/gallery_dl/downloader/ytdl.py
index 2126e107..6ac3ee08 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/downloader/ytdl.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/downloader/ytdl.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ class YoutubeDLDownloader(DownloaderBase):
         }
 
         self.ytdl_instance = None
+        self.rate = None
         self.forward_cookies = self.config("forward-cookies", True)
         self.progress = self.config("progress", 3.0)
         self.outtmpl = self.config("outtmpl")
@@ -70,6 +71,9 @@ class YoutubeDLDownloader(DownloaderBase):
         if self.progress is not None and not ytdl_instance._progress_hooks:
             ytdl_instance.add_progress_hook(self._progress_hook)
 
+        if rl := ytdl_instance.params.pop("_gdl_ratelimit", False):
+            self.rate = rl
+
         info_dict = kwdict.pop("_ytdl_info_dict", None)
         if not info_dict:
             url = url[5:]
@@ -132,6 +136,9 @@ class YoutubeDLDownloader(DownloaderBase):
             pathfmt.temppath = ""
             return True
 
+        if self.rate is not None:
+            ytdl_instance.params["ratelimit"] = self.rate()
+
         self.out.start(pathfmt.path)
         if self.part:
             pathfmt.kwdict["extension"] = pathfmt.prefix
@@ -161,6 +168,8 @@ class YoutubeDLDownloader(DownloaderBase):
         self._set_outtmpl(ytdl_instance, pathfmt.realpath)
 
         for entry in info_dict["entries"]:
+            if self.rate is not None:
+                ytdl_instance.params["ratelimit"] = self.rate()
             ytdl_instance.process_info(entry)
         return True
 
diff --git a/gallery_dl/ytdl.py b/gallery_dl/ytdl.py
index fa948f2c..f47c5020 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/ytdl.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/ytdl.py
@@ -49,18 +49,20 @@ def construct_YoutubeDL(module, obj, user_opts, system_opts=None):
         opts["nopart"] = not config("part", True)
     if opts.get("updatetime") is None:
         opts["updatetime"] = config("mtime", True)
-    if opts.get("ratelimit") is None:
-        rate = config("rate")
-        if rate:
-            func = util.build_selection_func(rate, 0, text.parse_bytes)
-            rmax = func.args[1] if hasattr(func, "args") else func()
-            opts["ratelimit"] = rmax or None
-        else:
-            opts["ratelimit"] = None
     if opts.get("min_filesize") is None:
         opts["min_filesize"] = text.parse_bytes(config("filesize-min"), None)
     if opts.get("max_filesize") is None:
         opts["max_filesize"] = text.parse_bytes(config("filesize-max"), None)
+    if opts.get("ratelimit") is None:
+        rate = config("rate")
+        if rate:
+            func = util.build_selection_func(rate, 0, text.parse_bytes)
+            if hasattr(func, "args"):
+                opts["_gdl_ratelimit"] = func
+            else:
+                opts["ratelimit"] = func() or None
+        else:
+            opts["ratelimit"] = None
 
     raw_opts = config("raw-options")
     if raw_opts: