diff --git a/gallery_dl/text.py b/gallery_dl/text.py
index a7539ad7..98bba484 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/text.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/text.py
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ def parse_float(value, default=0.0):
         return default
 
 
-def parse_query(qs):
+def parse_query(qs, empty=False):
     """Parse a query string into name-value pairs
 
     Ignore values whose name has been seen before
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ def parse_query(qs):
     try:
         for name_value in qs.split("&"):
             name, eq, value = name_value.partition("=")
-            if eq:
+            if eq or empty:
                 name = unquote(name.replace("+", " "))
                 if name not in result:
                     result[name] = unquote(value.replace("+", " "))
diff --git a/test/test_text.py b/test/test_text.py
index 13029d24..0e187d75 100644
--- a/test/test_text.py
+++ b/test/test_text.py
@@ -459,11 +459,15 @@ class TestText(unittest.TestCase):
         # missing value
         self.assertEqual(f("bar"), {})
         self.assertEqual(f("bar="), {"bar": ""})
+        self.assertEqual(f("bar", empty=True), {"bar": ""})
         self.assertEqual(f("foo=1&bar"), {"foo": "1"})
         self.assertEqual(f("foo=1&bar="), {"foo": "1", "bar": ""})
+        self.assertEqual(f("foo=1&bar", True), {"foo": "1", "bar": ""})
         self.assertEqual(f("foo=1&bar&baz=3"), {"foo": "1", "baz": "3"})
         self.assertEqual(f("foo=1&bar=&baz=3"),
                          {"foo": "1", "bar": "", "baz": "3"})
+        self.assertEqual(f("foo=1&bar&baz=3", True),
+                         {"foo": "1", "bar": "", "baz": "3"})
 
         # keys with identical names
         self.assertEqual(f("foo=1&foo=2"), {"foo": "1"})