diff --git a/repos/pc/src/drivers/framebuffer/intel/pc/lx_user.c b/repos/pc/src/drivers/framebuffer/intel/pc/lx_user.c
index bd6e90eb70..f102e9e567 100644
--- a/repos/pc/src/drivers/framebuffer/intel/pc/lx_user.c
+++ b/repos/pc/src/drivers/framebuffer/intel/pc/lx_user.c
@@ -221,8 +221,7 @@ static bool reconfigure(void * data)
 		unsigned                 mode_id    = 0;
 		struct drm_connector    *connector  = NULL;
 
-		struct genode_mode conf_mode = { .enabled = 1,
-		                                 .brightness = INVALID_BRIGHTNESS };
+		struct genode_mode conf_mode = { };
 
 		if (!mode_set->connectors || !*mode_set->connectors)
 			continue;
diff --git a/repos/pc/src/drivers/framebuffer/intel/pc/main.cc b/repos/pc/src/drivers/framebuffer/intel/pc/main.cc
index 91c33068e1..66800f75cd 100644
--- a/repos/pc/src/drivers/framebuffer/intel/pc/main.cc
+++ b/repos/pc/src/drivers/framebuffer/intel/pc/main.cc
@@ -197,6 +197,10 @@ void Framebuffer::Driver::generate_report(void *lx_data)
 void Framebuffer::Driver::lookup_config(char const * const name,
                                         struct genode_mode &mode)
 {
+	/* default settings, possibly overridden by explicit configuration below */
+	mode.enabled    = true;
+	mode.brightness = 70 /* percent */;
+
 	if (!config.valid())
 		return;