diff --git a/youtube_dl/YoutubeDL.py b/youtube_dl/YoutubeDL.py
index 6f2aba5ac..7af0dcee2 100755
--- a/youtube_dl/YoutubeDL.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/YoutubeDL.py
@@ -1737,7 +1737,9 @@ class YoutubeDL(object):
                 format['format_id'] = compat_str(i)
             else:
                 # Sanitize format_id from characters used in format selector expression
-                format['format_id'] = re.sub(r'[\s,/+\[\]()]', '_', format['format_id'])
+                # In fact, replace anything that's not allowed as a value in format selection,
+                # or (eg) excluding a format_id can crash. See method _build_format_filter()
+                format['format_id'] = re.sub(r'[^a-zA-Z0-9._-]', '_', format['format_id'])
             format_id = format['format_id']
             if format_id not in formats_dict:
                 formats_dict[format_id] = []