diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_fbdev.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_fbdev.c
index fce4a0d93c0b..f73ba5e6b7a8 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_fbdev.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_fbdev.c
@@ -387,6 +387,15 @@ static bool intel_fb_initial_config(struct drm_fb_helper *fb_helper,
 							  height);
 		}
 
+		/* No preferred mode marked by the EDID? Are there any modes? */
+		if (!modes[i] && !list_empty(&connector->modes)) {
+			DRM_DEBUG_KMS("using first mode listed on connector %s\n",
+				      drm_get_connector_name(connector));
+			modes[i] = list_first_entry(&connector->modes,
+						    struct drm_display_mode,
+						    head);
+		}
+
 		/* last resort: use current mode */
 		if (!modes[i]) {
 			/*