diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/youtube.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/youtube.py
index 1655f99e34..4d7e79fbff 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/youtube.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/youtube.py
@@ -3479,6 +3479,7 @@ def process_language(container, base_url, lang_code, sub_name, query):
             subtitles, automatic_captions = {}, {}
             for lang_code, caption_track in captions.items():
                 base_url = caption_track.get('baseUrl')
+                orig_lang = parse_qs(base_url).get('lang', [None])[-1]
                 if not base_url:
                     continue
                 lang_name = self._get_text(caption_track, 'name', max_runs=1)
@@ -3492,6 +3493,7 @@ def process_language(container, base_url, lang_code, sub_name, query):
                 for trans_code, trans_name in translation_languages.items():
                     if not trans_code:
                         continue
+                    orig_trans_code = trans_code
                     if caption_track.get('kind') != 'asr':
                         if 'translated_subs' in self._configuration_arg('skip'):
                             continue
@@ -3499,14 +3501,12 @@ def process_language(container, base_url, lang_code, sub_name, query):
                         trans_name += format_field(lang_name, template=' from %s')
                     # Add an "-orig" label to the original language so that it can be distinguished.
                     # The subs are returned without "-orig" as well for compatibility
-                    if lang_code == f'a-{trans_code}':
+                    if lang_code == f'a-{orig_trans_code}':
                         process_language(
                             automatic_captions, base_url, f'{trans_code}-orig', f'{trans_name} (Original)', {})
                     # Setting tlang=lang returns damaged subtitles.
-                    # Not using lang_code == f'a-{trans_code}' here for future-proofing
-                    orig_lang = parse_qs(base_url).get('lang', [None])[-1]
                     process_language(automatic_captions, base_url, trans_code, trans_name,
-                                     {} if orig_lang == trans_code else {'tlang': trans_code})
+                                     {} if orig_lang == orig_trans_code else {'tlang': trans_code})
             info['automatic_captions'] = automatic_captions
             info['subtitles'] = subtitles