diff --git a/gallery_dl/formatter.py b/gallery_dl/formatter.py
index ca6eca91..e4fed428 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/formatter.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/formatter.py
@@ -142,37 +142,32 @@ class StringFormatter():
             ], fmt)
         else:
             key, funcs = parse_field_name(field_name)
-            if key in _GLOBALS:
-                return self._apply_globals(_GLOBALS[key], funcs, fmt)
-            if funcs:
-                return self._apply(key, funcs, fmt)
-            return self._apply_simple(key, fmt)
+            return self._apply(key, funcs, fmt)
 
     def _apply(self, key, funcs, fmt):
-        def wrap(kwdict):
-            try:
-                obj = kwdict[key]
-                for func in funcs:
-                    obj = func(obj)
-            except Exception:
-                obj = self.default
-            return fmt(obj)
-        return wrap
-
-    def _apply_globals(self, gobj, funcs, fmt):
-        def wrap(_):
-            try:
-                obj = gobj()
-                for func in funcs:
-                    obj = func(obj)
-            except Exception:
-                obj = self.default
-            return fmt(obj)
-        return wrap
-
-    def _apply_simple(self, key, fmt):
-        def wrap(kwdict):
-            return fmt(kwdict[key] if key in kwdict else self.default)
+        if key in _GLOBALS:
+            def wrap(_):
+                try:
+                    obj = gobj()
+                    for func in funcs:
+                        obj = func(obj)
+                except Exception:
+                    obj = self.default
+                return fmt(obj)
+            gobj = _GLOBALS[key]
+        elif funcs:
+            def wrap(kwdict):
+                try:
+                    obj = kwdict[key]
+                    for func in funcs:
+                        obj = func(obj)
+                except Exception:
+                    obj = self.default
+                return fmt(obj)
+        else:
+            def wrap(kwdict):
+                return fmt(kwdict[key] if key in kwdict else self.default)
+            del funcs
         return wrap
 
     def _apply_list(self, lst, fmt):