diff --git a/backend/drm/drm.c b/backend/drm/drm.c
index 7fd36794..f179f835 100644
--- a/backend/drm/drm.c
+++ b/backend/drm/drm.c
@@ -1207,6 +1207,9 @@ void scan_drm_connectors(struct wlr_drm_backend *drm) {
 				mode->wlr_mode.width = mode->drm_mode.hdisplay;
 				mode->wlr_mode.height = mode->drm_mode.vdisplay;
 				mode->wlr_mode.refresh = calculate_refresh_rate(&mode->drm_mode);
+				if (mode->drm_mode.type & DRM_MODE_TYPE_PREFERRED) {
+					mode->wlr_mode.preferred = true;
+				}
 
 				wlr_log(WLR_INFO, "  %"PRId32"x%"PRId32"@%"PRId32,
 					mode->wlr_mode.width, mode->wlr_mode.height,
diff --git a/include/wlr/types/wlr_output.h b/include/wlr/types/wlr_output.h
index d6761ee1..84791b2d 100644
--- a/include/wlr/types/wlr_output.h
+++ b/include/wlr/types/wlr_output.h
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ struct wlr_output_mode {
 	uint32_t flags; // enum wl_output_mode
 	int32_t width, height;
 	int32_t refresh; // mHz
+	bool preferred;
 	struct wl_list link;
 };
 
@@ -71,7 +72,7 @@ struct wlr_output {
 	int32_t phys_width, phys_height; // mm
 
 	// Note: some backends may have zero modes
-	struct wl_list modes;
+	struct wl_list modes; // wlr_output_mode::link
 	struct wlr_output_mode *current_mode;
 	int32_t width, height;
 	int32_t refresh; // mHz, may be zero