diff --git a/configuration.example.ini b/configuration.example.ini
index d067e6f..a56a2a8 100644
--- a/configuration.example.ini
+++ b/configuration.example.ini
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ port = 64738
 #   bot.
 #   This problem can be resolved if the bot bears a valid cookie.
 #   If the bot complains "unable to query youtube", you may try to add your cookie here.
-#youtube_query_cookie = {'CONSENT': 'paste your CONSENT cookie value here'}
+#youtube_query_cookie = {"CONSENT": "paste your CONSENT cookie value here"}
 
 # [webinterface] stores settings related to the web interface.
 [webinterface]
diff --git a/util.py b/util.py
index 59060a5..3d4fa66 100644
--- a/util.py
+++ b/util.py
@@ -321,8 +321,8 @@ def youtube_search(query):
     import json
 
     try:
-        cookie = json.loads(var.config.get('bot', 'youtube_query_cookie', default='{}'))
-        r = requests.get("https://www.youtube.com/results", cookie=cookie,
+        cookie = json.loads(var.config.get('bot', 'youtube_query_cookie', fallback='{}'))
+        r = requests.get("https://www.youtube.com/results", cookies=cookie,
                          params={'search_query': query}, timeout=5)
         result_json_match = re.findall(r">var ytInitialData = (.*?);</script>", r.text)