DPRINTK("Trying specified video mode%s %ix%i\n",
            refresh_specified ? "" : " (ignoring refresh rate)", xres, yres);
 
-       diff = refresh;
+       if (!refresh_specified) {
+               /*
+                * If the caller has provided a custom mode database and a
+                * valid monspecs structure, we look for the mode with the
+                * highest refresh rate.  Otherwise we play it safe it and
+                * try to find a mode with a refresh rate closest to the
+                * standard 60 Hz.
+                */
+               if (db != modedb &&
+                   info->monspecs.vfmin && info->monspecs.vfmax &&
+                   info->monspecs.hfmin && info->monspecs.hfmax &&
+                   info->monspecs.dclkmax) {
+                       refresh = 1000;
+               } else {
+                       refresh = 60;
+               }
+       }
+
+       diff = -1;
        best = -1;
        for (i = 0; i < dbsize; i++) {
-               if (name_matches(db[i], name, namelen) ||
-                   (res_specified && res_matches(db[i], xres, yres))) {
-                       if(!fb_try_mode(var, info, &db[i], bpp)) {
-                               if(!refresh_specified || db[i].refresh == refresh)
-                                       return 1;
-                               else {
-                                       if(diff > abs(db[i].refresh - refresh)) {
-                                               diff = abs(db[i].refresh - refresh);
-                                               best = i;
-                                       }
+               if ((name_matches(db[i], name, namelen) ||
+                   (res_specified && res_matches(db[i], xres, yres))) &&
+                   !fb_try_mode(var, info, &db[i], bpp)) {
+                       if (refresh_specified && db[i].refresh == refresh) {
+                               return 1;
+                       } else {
+                               if (abs(db[i].refresh - refresh) < diff) {
+                                       diff = abs(db[i].refresh - refresh);
+                                       best = i;
                                }
                        }
                }
        }
        if (best != -1) {
                fb_try_mode(var, info, &db[best], bpp);
-               return 2;
+               return (refresh_specified) ? 2 : 1;
        }
 
        diff = xres + yres;