diff --git a/src/calibre/ebooks/conversion/plugins/recipe_input.py b/src/calibre/ebooks/conversion/plugins/recipe_input.py
index 0b69b66a69..477c4a434c 100644
--- a/src/calibre/ebooks/conversion/plugins/recipe_input.py
+++ b/src/calibre/ebooks/conversion/plugins/recipe_input.py
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ class RecipeInput(InputFormatPlugin):
                 if rtype == 'custom':
                     self.recipe_source = get_custom_recipe(recipe_id)
                 else:
-                    self.recipe_source = get_builtin_recipe_by_id(urn)
+                    self.recipe_source = get_builtin_recipe_by_id(urn, log=log, download_recipe=True)
                 if not self.recipe_source:
                     raise ValueError('Could not find recipe with urn: ' + urn)
                 if not isinstance(self.recipe_source, bytes):
diff --git a/src/calibre/web/feeds/recipes/collection.py b/src/calibre/web/feeds/recipes/collection.py
index 80e735dd42..971d78fa67 100644
--- a/src/calibre/web/feeds/recipes/collection.py
+++ b/src/calibre/web/feeds/recipes/collection.py
@@ -218,8 +218,11 @@ def download_builtin_recipe(urn):
     from calibre.utils.config_base import prefs
     from calibre.utils.https import get_https_resource_securely
     import bz2
-    return bz2.decompress(get_https_resource_securely(
+    recipe_source = bz2.decompress(get_https_resource_securely(
         'https://code.calibre-ebook.com/recipe-compressed/'+urn, headers={'CALIBRE-INSTALL-UUID':prefs['installation_uuid']}))
+    from calibre.web.feeds.recipes import compile_recipe
+    compile_recipe(recipe_source)  # ensure the downloaded recipe is at least compile-able
+    return recipe_source
 
 
 def get_builtin_recipe(urn):