diff --git a/anvil/src/udev.rs b/anvil/src/udev.rs
index d8ee6aa..19cd778 100644
--- a/anvil/src/udev.rs
+++ b/anvil/src/udev.rs
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ use smithay::{
         connector::{Info as ConnectorInfo, State as ConnectorState},
         crtc,
         encoder::Info as EncoderInfo,
-        ResourceInfo,
     },
     image::{ImageBuffer, Rgba},
     input::Libinput,
@@ -283,11 +282,9 @@ impl<S: SessionNotifier, Data: 'static> UdevHandlerImpl<S, Data> {
             for encoder_info in encoder_infos {
                 for crtc in res_handles.filter_crtcs(encoder_info.possible_crtcs()) {
                     if !backends.contains_key(&crtc) {
-                        let mode = connector_info.modes()[0]; // Use first mode (usually highest resoltion, but in reality you should filter and sort and check and match with other connectors, if you use more then one.)
-                                                              // create a backend
                         let renderer = GliumDrawer::init(
                             device
-                                .create_surface(crtc, mode, vec![connector_info.handle()].into_iter())
+                                .create_surface(crtc)
                                 .unwrap(),
                             egl_display.clone(),
                             logger.clone(),
@@ -332,11 +329,9 @@ impl<S: SessionNotifier, Data: 'static> UdevHandlerImpl<S, Data> {
             for encoder_info in encoder_infos {
                 for crtc in res_handles.filter_crtcs(encoder_info.possible_crtcs()) {
                     if !backends.contains_key(&crtc) {
-                        let mode = connector_info.modes()[0]; // Use first mode (usually highest resoltion, but in reality you should filter and sort and check and match with other connectors, if you use more then one.)
-                                                              // create a backend
                         let renderer = GliumDrawer::init(
                             device
-                                .create_surface(crtc, mode, vec![connector_info.handle()].into_iter())
+                                .create_surface(crtc)
                                 .unwrap(),
                             logger.clone(),
                         );
diff --git a/src/backend/drm/egl/mod.rs b/src/backend/drm/egl/mod.rs
index b97cfac..759b65d 100644
--- a/src/backend/drm/egl/mod.rs
+++ b/src/backend/drm/egl/mod.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
-use drm::control::{connector, crtc, Mode, ResourceHandles, ResourceInfo};
+use drm::control::{crtc, ResourceHandles, ResourceInfo};
 use nix::libc::dev_t;
-use std::iter::FromIterator;
 use std::os::unix::io::{AsRawFd, RawFd};
 use std::rc::Rc;
 use wayland_server::Display;
@@ -25,19 +24,19 @@ pub mod session;
 /// Representation of an open gbm device to create rendering backends
 pub struct EglDevice<
     B: Backend<Surface = <D as Device>::Surface> + 'static,
-    D: Device + NativeDisplay<B> + 'static,
+    D: Device + NativeDisplay<B, Arguments = crtc::Handle> + 'static,
 > where
-    <D as NativeDisplay<B>>::Arguments: From<(crtc::Handle, Mode, Vec<connector::Handle>)>,
     <D as Device>::Surface: NativeSurface,
 {
     dev: Rc<EGLContext<B, D>>,
     logger: ::slog::Logger,
 }
 
-impl<B: Backend<Surface = <D as Device>::Surface> + 'static, D: Device + NativeDisplay<B> + 'static> AsRawFd
-    for EglDevice<B, D>
+impl<
+        B: Backend<Surface = <D as Device>::Surface> + 'static,
+        D: Device + NativeDisplay<B, Arguments = crtc::Handle> + 'static,
+    > AsRawFd for EglDevice<B, D>
 where
-    <D as NativeDisplay<B>>::Arguments: From<(crtc::Handle, Mode, Vec<connector::Handle>)>,
     <D as Device>::Surface: NativeSurface,
 {
     fn as_raw_fd(&self) -> RawFd {
@@ -45,10 +44,11 @@ where
     }
 }
 
-impl<B: Backend<Surface = <D as Device>::Surface> + 'static, D: Device + NativeDisplay<B> + 'static>
-    EglDevice<B, D>
+impl<
+        B: Backend<Surface = <D as Device>::Surface> + 'static,
+        D: Device + NativeDisplay<B, Arguments = crtc::Handle> + 'static,
+    > EglDevice<B, D>
 where
-    <D as NativeDisplay<B>>::Arguments: From<(crtc::Handle, Mode, Vec<connector::Handle>)>,
     <D as Device>::Surface: NativeSurface,
 {
     /// Create a new `EglGbmDrmDevice` from an open drm node
@@ -96,18 +96,18 @@ where
 
 struct InternalDeviceHandler<
     B: Backend<Surface = <D as Device>::Surface> + 'static,
-    D: Device + NativeDisplay<B> + 'static,
+    D: Device + NativeDisplay<B, Arguments = crtc::Handle> + 'static,
 > where
-    <D as NativeDisplay<B>>::Arguments: From<(crtc::Handle, Mode, Vec<connector::Handle>)>,
     <D as Device>::Surface: NativeSurface,
 {
     handler: Box<DeviceHandler<Device = EglDevice<B, D>> + 'static>,
 }
 
-impl<B: Backend<Surface = <D as Device>::Surface> + 'static, D: Device + NativeDisplay<B> + 'static>
-    DeviceHandler for InternalDeviceHandler<B, D>
+impl<
+        B: Backend<Surface = <D as Device>::Surface> + 'static,
+        D: Device + NativeDisplay<B, Arguments = crtc::Handle> + 'static,
+    > DeviceHandler for InternalDeviceHandler<B, D>
 where
-    <D as NativeDisplay<B>>::Arguments: From<(crtc::Handle, Mode, Vec<connector::Handle>)>,
     <D as Device>::Surface: NativeSurface,
 {
     type Device = D;
@@ -121,10 +121,11 @@ where
     }
 }
 
-impl<B: Backend<Surface = <D as Device>::Surface> + 'static, D: Device + NativeDisplay<B> + 'static> Device
-    for EglDevice<B, D>
+impl<
+        B: Backend<Surface = <D as Device>::Surface> + 'static,
+        D: Device + NativeDisplay<B, Arguments = crtc::Handle> + 'static,
+    > Device for EglDevice<B, D>
 where
-    <D as NativeDisplay<B>>::Arguments: From<(crtc::Handle, Mode, Vec<connector::Handle>)>,
     <D as Device>::Surface: NativeSurface,
 {
     type Surface = EglSurface<B, D>;
@@ -143,17 +144,10 @@ where
         self.dev.borrow_mut().clear_handler()
     }
 
-    fn create_surface(
-        &mut self,
-        crtc: crtc::Handle,
-        mode: Mode,
-        connectors: impl IntoIterator<Item = connector::Handle>,
-    ) -> Result<EglSurface<B, D>> {
+    fn create_surface(&mut self, crtc: crtc::Handle) -> Result<EglSurface<B, D>> {
         info!(self.logger, "Initializing EglSurface");
 
-        let surface = self
-            .dev
-            .create_surface((crtc, mode, Vec::from_iter(connectors)).into())?;
+        let surface = self.dev.create_surface(crtc)?;
 
         Ok(EglSurface {
             dev: self.dev.clone(),
@@ -181,10 +175,11 @@ where
 }
 
 #[cfg(feature = "native_lib")]
-impl<B: Backend<Surface = <D as Device>::Surface> + 'static, D: Device + NativeDisplay<B> + 'static>
-    EGLGraphicsBackend for EglDevice<B, D>
+impl<
+        B: Backend<Surface = <D as Device>::Surface> + 'static,
+        D: Device + NativeDisplay<B, Arguments = crtc::Handle> + 'static,
+    > EGLGraphicsBackend for EglDevice<B, D>
 where
-    <D as NativeDisplay<B>>::Arguments: From<(crtc::Handle, Mode, Vec<connector::Handle>)>,
     <D as Device>::Surface: NativeSurface,
 {
     fn bind_wl_display(&self, display: &Display) -> EGLResult<EGLDisplay> {
@@ -192,13 +187,14 @@ where
     }
 }
 
-impl<B: Backend<Surface = <D as Device>::Surface> + 'static, D: Device + NativeDisplay<B> + 'static>
-    Drop for EglDevice<B, D>
+impl<
+        B: Backend<Surface = <D as Device>::Surface> + 'static,
+        D: Device + NativeDisplay<B, Arguments = crtc::Handle> + 'static,
+    > Drop for EglDevice<B, D>
 where
-    <D as NativeDisplay<B>>::Arguments: From<(crtc::Handle, Mode, Vec<connector::Handle>)>,
     <D as Device>::Surface: NativeSurface,
 {
     fn drop(&mut self) {
         self.clear_handler();
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/src/backend/drm/egl/session.rs b/src/backend/drm/egl/session.rs
index 4b7fc44..7247d2d 100644
--- a/src/backend/drm/egl/session.rs
+++ b/src/backend/drm/egl/session.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
+use drm::control::{connector, crtc, Mode};
 use std::os::unix::io::RawFd;
-use drm::control::{crtc, connector, Mode};
 
 use super::EglDevice;
 use backend::drm::Device;
@@ -14,10 +14,9 @@ pub struct EglDeviceObserver<S: SessionObserver + 'static> {
 impl<
         S: SessionObserver + 'static,
         B: Backend<Surface = <D as Device>::Surface> + 'static,
-        D: Device + NativeDisplay<B> + AsSessionObserver<S> + 'static,
+        D: Device + NativeDisplay<B, Arguments = crtc::Handle> + AsSessionObserver<S> + 'static,
     > AsSessionObserver<EglDeviceObserver<S>> for EglDevice<B, D>
 where
-    <D as NativeDisplay<B>>::Arguments: From<(crtc::Handle, Mode, Vec<connector::Handle>)>,
     <D as Device>::Surface: NativeSurface,
 {
     fn observer(&mut self) -> EglDeviceObserver<S> {
diff --git a/src/backend/drm/egl/surface.rs b/src/backend/drm/egl/surface.rs
index 5573abb..b8be770 100644
--- a/src/backend/drm/egl/surface.rs
+++ b/src/backend/drm/egl/surface.rs
@@ -54,15 +54,15 @@ where
             .chain_err(|| ErrorKind::UnderlyingBackendError)
     }
 
-    fn current_mode(&self) -> Mode {
+    fn current_mode(&self) -> Option<Mode> {
         self.surface.current_mode()
     }
 
-    fn pending_mode(&self) -> Mode {
+    fn pending_mode(&self) -> Option<Mode> {
         self.surface.pending_mode()
     }
 
-    fn use_mode(&self, mode: Mode) -> Result<()> {
+    fn use_mode(&self, mode: Option<Mode>) -> Result<()> {
         self.surface
             .use_mode(mode)
             .chain_err(|| ErrorKind::UnderlyingBackendError)
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ where
     }
 
     fn get_framebuffer_dimensions(&self) -> (u32, u32) {
-        let (w, h) = self.pending_mode().size();
+        let (w, h) = self.pending_mode().map(|mode| mode.size()).unwrap_or((1, 1));
         (w as u32, h as u32)
     }
 
diff --git a/src/backend/drm/gbm/egl.rs b/src/backend/drm/gbm/egl.rs
index 45b36bb..696b400 100644
--- a/src/backend/drm/gbm/egl.rs
+++ b/src/backend/drm/gbm/egl.rs
@@ -45,28 +45,8 @@ impl<D: RawDevice + 'static> Backend for Gbm<D> {
     }
 }
 
-/// Arguments necessary to construct a `GbmSurface`
-pub struct SurfaceArguments {
-    /// Crtc
-    pub crtc: crtc::Handle,
-    /// Mode
-    pub mode: Mode,
-    /// Connectors
-    pub connectors: Vec<connector::Handle>,
-}
-
-impl From<(crtc::Handle, Mode, Vec<connector::Handle>)> for SurfaceArguments {
-    fn from((crtc, mode, connectors): (crtc::Handle, Mode, Vec<connector::Handle>)) -> Self {
-        SurfaceArguments {
-            crtc,
-            mode,
-            connectors: Vec::from_iter(connectors),
-        }
-    }
-}
-
 unsafe impl<D: RawDevice + ControlDevice + 'static> NativeDisplay<Gbm<D>> for GbmDevice<D> {
-    type Arguments = SurfaceArguments;
+    type Arguments = crtc::Handle;
     type Error = Error;
 
     fn is_backend(&self) -> bool {
@@ -77,8 +57,8 @@ unsafe impl<D: RawDevice + ControlDevice + 'static> NativeDisplay<Gbm<D>> for Gb
         Ok(self.dev.borrow().as_raw() as *const _)
     }
 
-    fn create_surface(&mut self, args: SurfaceArguments) -> Result<GbmSurface<D>> {
-        Device::create_surface(self, args.crtc, args.mode, args.connectors)
+    fn create_surface(&mut self, crtc: crtc::Handle) -> Result<GbmSurface<D>> {
+        Device::create_surface(self, crtc)
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/backend/drm/gbm/error.rs b/src/backend/drm/gbm/error.rs
index 484e79c..e654c2d 100644
--- a/src/backend/drm/gbm/error.rs
+++ b/src/backend/drm/gbm/error.rs
@@ -16,6 +16,12 @@ error_chain! {
             display("Creation of gbm surface failed"),
         }
 
+        #[doc = "No mode is set, blocking the current operation"]
+        NoModeSet {
+            description("No mode is currently set"),
+            display("No mode is currently set"),
+        }
+
         #[doc = "Creation of gbm buffer object failed"]
         BufferCreationFailed {
             description("Creation of gbm buffer object failed"),
diff --git a/src/backend/drm/gbm/mod.rs b/src/backend/drm/gbm/mod.rs
index 5bdba8c..7b4f4bd 100644
--- a/src/backend/drm/gbm/mod.rs
+++ b/src/backend/drm/gbm/mod.rs
@@ -119,18 +119,16 @@ impl<D: RawDevice + ControlDevice + 'static> Device for GbmDevice<D> {
         self.dev.borrow_mut().clear_handler();
     }
 
-    fn create_surface(
-        &mut self,
-        crtc: crtc::Handle,
-        mode: Mode,
-        connectors: impl IntoIterator<Item = connector::Handle>,
-    ) -> Result<GbmSurface<D>> {
+    fn create_surface(&mut self, crtc: crtc::Handle) -> Result<GbmSurface<D>> {
         info!(self.logger, "Initializing GbmSurface");
 
-        let drm_surface = Device::create_surface(&mut **self.dev.borrow_mut(), crtc, mode, connectors)
+        let drm_surface = Device::create_surface(&mut **self.dev.borrow_mut(), crtc)
             .chain_err(|| ErrorKind::UnderlyingBackendError)?;
 
-        let (w, h) = mode.size();
+        let (w, h) = drm_surface
+            .pending_mode()
+            .map(|mode| mode.size())
+            .unwrap_or((1, 1));
         let surface = self
             .dev
             .borrow()
@@ -197,4 +195,4 @@ impl<D: RawDevice + ControlDevice + 'static> Drop for GbmDevice<D> {
     fn drop(&mut self) {
         self.clear_handler();
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/src/backend/drm/gbm/surface.rs b/src/backend/drm/gbm/surface.rs
index 70167e7..704ee64 100644
--- a/src/backend/drm/gbm/surface.rs
+++ b/src/backend/drm/gbm/surface.rs
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ impl<D: RawDevice + 'static> GbmSurfaceInternal<D> {
     }
 
     pub fn recreate(&self) -> Result<()> {
-        let (w, h) = self.pending_mode().size();
+        let (w, h) = self.pending_mode().chain_err(|| ErrorKind::NoModeSet)?.size();
 
         // Recreate the surface and the related resources to match the new
         // resolution.
@@ -161,15 +161,15 @@ impl<D: RawDevice + 'static> Surface for GbmSurfaceInternal<D> {
             .chain_err(|| ErrorKind::UnderlyingBackendError)
     }
 
-    fn current_mode(&self) -> Mode {
+    fn current_mode(&self) -> Option<Mode> {
         self.crtc.current_mode()
     }
 
-    fn pending_mode(&self) -> Mode {
+    fn pending_mode(&self) -> Option<Mode> {
         self.crtc.pending_mode()
     }
 
-    fn use_mode(&self, mode: Mode) -> Result<()> {
+    fn use_mode(&self, mode: Option<Mode>) -> Result<()> {
         self.crtc
             .use_mode(mode)
             .chain_err(|| ErrorKind::UnderlyingBackendError)
@@ -314,15 +314,15 @@ impl<D: RawDevice + 'static> Surface for GbmSurface<D> {
         self.0.remove_connector(connector)
     }
 
-    fn current_mode(&self) -> Mode {
+    fn current_mode(&self) -> Option<Mode> {
         self.0.current_mode()
     }
 
-    fn pending_mode(&self) -> Mode {
+    fn pending_mode(&self) -> Option<Mode> {
         self.0.pending_mode()
     }
 
-    fn use_mode(&self, mode: Mode) -> Result<()> {
+    fn use_mode(&self, mode: Option<Mode>) -> Result<()> {
         self.0.use_mode(mode)
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/backend/drm/legacy/mod.rs b/src/backend/drm/legacy/mod.rs
index 2b46c7b..5a0d221 100644
--- a/src/backend/drm/legacy/mod.rs
+++ b/src/backend/drm/legacy/mod.rs
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ impl<A: AsRawFd + 'static> AsRawFd for Dev<A> {
 }
 impl<A: AsRawFd + 'static> BasicDevice for Dev<A> {}
 impl<A: AsRawFd + 'static> ControlDevice for Dev<A> {}
-impl<A: AsRawFd + 'static>  Drop for Dev<A> {
+impl<A: AsRawFd + 'static> Drop for Dev<A> {
     fn drop(&mut self) {
         info!(self.logger, "Dropping device: {:?}", self.dev_path());
         if self.active.load(Ordering::SeqCst) {
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ impl<A: AsRawFd + 'static> LegacyDrmDevice<A> {
                 }
             }
         }
-        
+
         Ok(LegacyDrmDevice {
             // Open the drm device and create a context based on that
             dev: Rc::new(dev),
@@ -163,12 +163,7 @@ impl<A: AsRawFd + 'static> Device for LegacyDrmDevice<A> {
         let _ = self.handler.take();
     }
 
-    fn create_surface(
-        &mut self,
-        crtc: crtc::Handle,
-        mode: Mode,
-        connectors: impl IntoIterator<Item = connector::Handle>,
-    ) -> Result<LegacyDrmSurface<A>> {
+    fn create_surface(&mut self, crtc: crtc::Handle) -> Result<LegacyDrmSurface<A>> {
         if self.backends.borrow().contains_key(&crtc) {
             bail!(ErrorKind::CrtcAlreadyInUse(crtc));
         }
@@ -177,52 +172,38 @@ impl<A: AsRawFd + 'static> Device for LegacyDrmDevice<A> {
             bail!(ErrorKind::DeviceInactive);
         }
 
-        let connectors = HashSet::from_iter(connectors);
-        // check if we have an encoder for every connector and the mode mode
-        for connector in &connectors {
-            let con_info = connector::Info::load_from_device(self, *connector).chain_err(|| {
+        let crtc_info = crtc::Info::load_from_device(self, crtc)
+            .chain_err(|| ErrorKind::DrmDev(format!("Error loading crtc info on {:?}", self.dev_path())))?;
+
+        let mode = crtc_info.mode();
+
+        let mut connectors = HashSet::new();
+        let res_handles = ControlDevice::resource_handles(self).chain_err(|| {
+            ErrorKind::DrmDev(format!("Error loading drm resources on {:?}", self.dev_path()))
+        })?;
+        for &con in res_handles.connectors() {
+            let con_info = connector::Info::load_from_device(self, con).chain_err(|| {
                 ErrorKind::DrmDev(format!("Error loading connector info on {:?}", self.dev_path()))
             })?;
-
-            // check the mode
-            if !con_info.modes().contains(&mode) {
-                bail!(ErrorKind::ModeNotSuitable(mode));
-            }
-
-            // check for every connector which encoders it does support
-            let encoders = con_info
-                .encoders()
-                .iter()
-                .map(|encoder| {
-                    encoder::Info::load_from_device(self, *encoder).chain_err(|| {
-                        ErrorKind::DrmDev(format!("Error loading encoder info on {:?}", self.dev_path()))
-                    })
-                }).collect::<Result<Vec<encoder::Info>>>()?;
-
-            // and if any encoder supports the selected crtc
-            let resource_handles = ControlDevice::resource_handles(self).chain_err(|| {
-                ErrorKind::DrmDev(format!("Error loading drm resources on {:?}", self.dev_path()))
-            })?;
-            if !encoders
-                .iter()
-                .map(|encoder| encoder.possible_crtcs())
-                .any(|crtc_list| resource_handles.filter_crtcs(crtc_list).contains(&crtc))
-            {
-                bail!(ErrorKind::NoSuitableEncoder(con_info, crtc))
+            if let Some(enc) = con_info.current_encoder() {
+                let enc_info = encoder::Info::load_from_device(self, enc).chain_err(|| {
+                    ErrorKind::DrmDev(format!("Error loading encoder info on {:?}", self.dev_path()))
+                })?;
+                if let Some(current_crtc) = enc_info.current_crtc() {
+                    if crtc == current_crtc {
+                        connectors.insert(con);
+                    }
+                }
             }
         }
 
-        // configuration is valid, the kernel will figure out the rest
-        let logger = self.logger.new(o!("crtc" => format!("{:?}", crtc)));
-
         let state = State { mode, connectors };
-
         let backend = Rc::new(LegacyDrmSurfaceInternal {
             dev: self.dev.clone(),
             crtc,
             state: RwLock::new(state.clone()),
             pending: RwLock::new(state),
-            logger,
+            logger: self.logger.new(o!("crtc" => format!("{:?}", crtc))),
         });
 
         self.backends.borrow_mut().insert(crtc, Rc::downgrade(&backend));
diff --git a/src/backend/drm/legacy/surface.rs b/src/backend/drm/legacy/surface.rs
index 36a58d7..e1ebbd4 100644
--- a/src/backend/drm/legacy/surface.rs
+++ b/src/backend/drm/legacy/surface.rs
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ use super::{error::*, Dev};
 
 #[derive(Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Clone)]
 pub struct State {
-    pub mode: Mode,
+    pub mode: Option<Mode>,
     pub connectors: HashSet<connector::Handle>,
 }
 
@@ -77,11 +77,11 @@ impl<A: AsRawFd + 'static> Surface for LegacyDrmSurfaceInternal<A> {
         self.pending.read().unwrap().connectors.clone()
     }
 
-    fn current_mode(&self) -> Mode {
+    fn current_mode(&self) -> Option<Mode> {
         self.state.read().unwrap().mode.clone()
     }
 
-    fn pending_mode(&self) -> Mode {
+    fn pending_mode(&self) -> Option<Mode> {
         self.pending.read().unwrap().mode.clone()
     }
 
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ impl<A: AsRawFd + 'static> Surface for LegacyDrmSurfaceInternal<A> {
         let mut pending = self.pending.write().unwrap();
 
         // check if the connector can handle the current mode
-        if info.modes().contains(&pending.mode) {
+        if info.modes().contains(pending.mode.as_ref().unwrap()) {
             // check if there is a valid encoder
             let encoders = info
                 .encoders()
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ impl<A: AsRawFd + 'static> Surface for LegacyDrmSurfaceInternal<A> {
             pending.connectors.insert(connector);
             Ok(())
         } else {
-            bail!(ErrorKind::ModeNotSuitable(pending.mode));
+            bail!(ErrorKind::ModeNotSuitable(pending.mode.unwrap()));
         }
     }
 
@@ -128,18 +128,20 @@ impl<A: AsRawFd + 'static> Surface for LegacyDrmSurfaceInternal<A> {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    fn use_mode(&self, mode: Mode) -> Result<()> {
+    fn use_mode(&self, mode: Option<Mode>) -> Result<()> {
         let mut pending = self.pending.write().unwrap();
 
         // check the connectors
-        for connector in &pending.connectors {
-            if !connector::Info::load_from_device(self, *connector)
-                .chain_err(|| {
-                    ErrorKind::DrmDev(format!("Error loading connector info on {:?}", self.dev_path()))
-                })?.modes()
-                .contains(&mode)
-            {
-                bail!(ErrorKind::ModeNotSuitable(mode));
+        if let Some(mode) = mode {
+            for connector in &pending.connectors {
+                if !connector::Info::load_from_device(self, *connector)
+                    .chain_err(|| {
+                        ErrorKind::DrmDev(format!("Error loading connector info on {:?}", self.dev_path()))
+                    })?.modes()
+                    .contains(&mode)
+                {
+                    bail!(ErrorKind::ModeNotSuitable(mode));
+                }
             }
         }
 
@@ -179,7 +181,11 @@ impl<A: AsRawFd + 'static> RawSurface for LegacyDrmSurfaceInternal<A> {
             }
 
             if current.mode != pending.mode {
-                info!(self.logger, "Setting new mode: {:?}", pending.mode.name());
+                info!(
+                    self.logger,
+                    "Setting new mode: {:?}",
+                    pending.mode.as_ref().unwrap().name()
+                );
             }
         }
 
@@ -194,7 +200,7 @@ impl<A: AsRawFd + 'static> RawSurface for LegacyDrmSurfaceInternal<A> {
                 .map(|x| *x)
                 .collect::<Vec<connector::Handle>>(),
             (0, 0),
-            Some(pending.mode),
+            pending.mode,
         ).chain_err(|| {
             ErrorKind::DrmDev(format!(
                 "Error setting crtc {:?} on {:?}",
@@ -270,11 +276,11 @@ impl<A: AsRawFd + 'static> Surface for LegacyDrmSurface<A> {
         self.0.pending_connectors()
     }
 
-    fn current_mode(&self) -> Mode {
+    fn current_mode(&self) -> Option<Mode> {
         self.0.current_mode()
     }
 
-    fn pending_mode(&self) -> Mode {
+    fn pending_mode(&self) -> Option<Mode> {
         self.0.pending_mode()
     }
 
@@ -286,7 +292,7 @@ impl<A: AsRawFd + 'static> Surface for LegacyDrmSurface<A> {
         self.0.remove_connector(connector)
     }
 
-    fn use_mode(&self, mode: Mode) -> Result<()> {
+    fn use_mode(&self, mode: Option<Mode>) -> Result<()> {
         self.0.use_mode(mode)
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/backend/drm/mod.rs b/src/backend/drm/mod.rs
index 2b60f5d..82d3c54 100644
--- a/src/backend/drm/mod.rs
+++ b/src/backend/drm/mod.rs
@@ -38,8 +38,6 @@ pub trait Device: AsRawFd + DevPath {
     fn create_surface(
         &mut self,
         ctrc: crtc::Handle,
-        mode: Mode,
-        connectors: impl IntoIterator<Item = connector::Handle>,
     ) -> Result<Self::Surface, <Self::Surface as Surface>::Error>;
     fn process_events(&mut self);
     fn resource_info<T: ResourceInfo>(
@@ -62,9 +60,9 @@ pub trait Surface {
     fn pending_connectors(&self) -> Self::Connectors;
     fn add_connector(&self, connector: connector::Handle) -> Result<(), Self::Error>;
     fn remove_connector(&self, connector: connector::Handle) -> Result<(), Self::Error>;
-    fn current_mode(&self) -> Mode;
-    fn pending_mode(&self) -> Mode;
-    fn use_mode(&self, mode: Mode) -> Result<(), Self::Error>;
+    fn current_mode(&self) -> Option<Mode>;
+    fn pending_mode(&self) -> Option<Mode>;
+    fn use_mode(&self, mode: Option<Mode>) -> Result<(), Self::Error>;
 }
 
 pub trait RawSurface: Surface + ControlDevice + BasicDevice {