diff --git a/examples/simple.c b/examples/simple.c
index 8540892d..965e97be 100644
--- a/examples/simple.c
+++ b/examples/simple.c
@@ -80,9 +80,9 @@ static void new_output_notify(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data) {
 		wl_container_of(listener, sample, new_output);
 	struct sample_output *sample_output =
 		calloc(1, sizeof(struct sample_output));
-	if (!wl_list_empty(&output->modes)) {
-		struct wlr_output_mode *mode =
-			wl_container_of(output->modes.prev, mode, link);
+
+	struct wlr_output_mode *mode = wlr_output_preferred_mode(output);
+	if (mode != NULL) {
 		wlr_output_set_mode(output, mode);
 	}
 	sample_output->output = output;