diff --git a/src/apps/cam/camera_session.cpp b/src/apps/cam/camera_session.cpp
index 97c1ae44995e..f63fcb228519 100644
--- a/src/apps/cam/camera_session.cpp
+++ b/src/apps/cam/camera_session.cpp
@@ -62,11 +62,32 @@ CameraSession::CameraSession(CameraManager *cm,
 		return;
 	}
 
-	std::vector<StreamRole> roles = StreamKeyValueParser::roles(options_[OptStream]);
+	std::vector<StreamRole> roles =
+		StreamKeyValueParser::roles(options_[OptStream]);
+	std::vector<std::vector<StreamRole>> tryRoles;
+	if (!roles.empty()) {
+		/*
+		 * If the roles are explicitly specified then there's no need
+		 * to try other roles
+		 */
+		tryRoles.push_back(roles);
+	} else {
+		tryRoles.push_back({ StreamRole::Viewfinder });
+		tryRoles.push_back({ StreamRole::Raw });
+	}
+
+	std::unique_ptr<CameraConfiguration> config;
+	bool valid = false;
+	for (std::vector<StreamRole> &rolesIt : tryRoles) {
+		config = camera_->generateConfiguration(rolesIt);
+		if (config && config->size() == rolesIt.size()) {
+			roles = rolesIt;
+			valid = true;
+			break;
+		}
+	}
 
-	std::unique_ptr<CameraConfiguration> config =
-		camera_->generateConfiguration(roles);
-	if (!config || config->size() != roles.size()) {
+	if (!valid) {
 		std::cerr << "Failed to get default stream configuration"
 			  << std::endl;
 		return;
diff --git a/src/apps/common/stream_options.cpp b/src/apps/common/stream_options.cpp
index 99239e07e302..288f86530351 100644
--- a/src/apps/common/stream_options.cpp
+++ b/src/apps/common/stream_options.cpp
@@ -42,9 +42,8 @@ KeyValueParser::Options StreamKeyValueParser::parse(const char *arguments)
 
 std::vector<StreamRole> StreamKeyValueParser::roles(const OptionValue &values)
 {
-	/* If no configuration values to examine default to viewfinder. */
 	if (values.empty())
-		return { StreamRole::Viewfinder };
+		return {};
 
 	const std::vector<OptionValue> &streamParameters = values.toArray();
 
diff --git a/src/apps/qcam/main_window.cpp b/src/apps/qcam/main_window.cpp
index d2ccbd2318fa..224a7e5a693a 100644
--- a/src/apps/qcam/main_window.cpp
+++ b/src/apps/qcam/main_window.cpp
@@ -356,6 +356,9 @@ int MainWindow::startCapture()
 
 	/* Verify roles are supported. */
 	switch (roles.size()) {
+	case 0:
+		roles[0] = StreamRole::Viewfinder;
+		break;
 	case 1:
 		if (roles[0] != StreamRole::Viewfinder) {
 			qWarning() << "Only viewfinder supported for single stream";