diff --git a/test/test_utils.py b/test/test_utils.py
index a1fe6fdb2..253a7fe17 100644
--- a/test/test_utils.py
+++ b/test/test_utils.py
@@ -1072,6 +1072,18 @@ def test_match_str(self):
         self.assertFalse(match_str(
             'like_count > 100 & dislike_count <? 50 & description',
             {'like_count': 190, 'dislike_count': 10}))
+        self.assertTrue(match_str('is_live', {'is_live': True}))
+        self.assertFalse(match_str('is_live', {'is_live': False}))
+        self.assertFalse(match_str('is_live', {'is_live': None}))
+        self.assertFalse(match_str('is_live', {}))
+        self.assertFalse(match_str('!is_live', {'is_live': True}))
+        self.assertTrue(match_str('!is_live', {'is_live': False}))
+        self.assertTrue(match_str('!is_live', {'is_live': None}))
+        self.assertTrue(match_str('!is_live', {}))
+        self.assertTrue(match_str('title', {'title': 'abc'}))
+        self.assertTrue(match_str('title', {'title': ''}))
+        self.assertFalse(match_str('!title', {'title': 'abc'}))
+        self.assertFalse(match_str('!title', {'title': ''}))
 
     def test_parse_dfxp_time_expr(self):
         self.assertEqual(parse_dfxp_time_expr(None), None)
diff --git a/youtube_dl/utils.py b/youtube_dl/utils.py
index 027d12785..574284e94 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/utils.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/utils.py
@@ -2574,8 +2574,8 @@ def _match_one(filter_part, dct):
         return op(actual_value, comparison_value)
 
     UNARY_OPERATORS = {
-        '': lambda v: v is not None,
-        '!': lambda v: v is None,
+        '': lambda v: (v is True) if isinstance(v, bool) else (v is not None),
+        '!': lambda v: (v is False) if isinstance(v, bool) else (v is None),
     }
     operator_rex = re.compile(r'''(?x)\s*
         (?P<op>%s)\s*(?P<key>[a-z_]+)