diff --git a/transcribe.py b/transcribe.py
index 58f222e..9c4d784 100644
--- a/transcribe.py
+++ b/transcribe.py
@@ -23,11 +23,9 @@ logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 def extract_subtitles(item, user, layer, translate, gpu=False):
     if "language" not in item.data:
         logger.error("skip item without language %s", item.public_id)
-        return False
-    language = ox.iso.langTo2Code(item.data["language"][0])
-    if not language:
-        logger.error("skip item with unknown language %s: %s", item.public_id, item.data["language"])
-        return False
+        language = None
+    else:
+        language = ox.iso.langTo2Code(item.data["language"][0])
     if not item.streams():
         logger.error("skip item without media %s: %s", item.public_id)
         return False
@@ -36,13 +34,16 @@ def extract_subtitles(item, user, layer, translate, gpu=False):
     tmp = tempfile.mkdtemp()
     cmd = [
         "/opt/whisper-timestamped/bin/whisper_timestamped",
-        "--language", language,
     ]
-    if translate and language in translate:
+    if language:
         cmd += [
-            '--task', 'translate'
+            "--language", language
         ]
-        language = 'en'
+        if translate and language in translate:
+            cmd += [
+                '--task', 'translate'
+            ]
+            language = 'en'
     if not gpu:
         cmd += [
             "--fp16", "False",