diff --git a/src/main/java/org/bytedeco/javacv/OpenCVFrameGrabber.java b/src/main/java/org/bytedeco/javacv/OpenCVFrameGrabber.java
index 322479a8..0f1c323c 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/bytedeco/javacv/OpenCVFrameGrabber.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/bytedeco/javacv/OpenCVFrameGrabber.java
@@ -175,6 +175,16 @@ public void start() throws Exception {
         } else {
             capture = new VideoCapture(deviceNumber);
         }
+
+        if (format != null && format.length() >= 4) {
+            format = format.toUpperCase();
+            byte cc0 = (byte)format.charAt(0);
+            byte cc1 = (byte)format.charAt(1);
+            byte cc2 = (byte)format.charAt(2);
+            byte cc3 = (byte)format.charAt(3);
+            capture.set(CV_CAP_PROP_FOURCC, CV_FOURCC(cc0, cc1, cc2, cc3));
+        }
+
         if (imageWidth > 0) {
             if (!capture.set(CV_CAP_PROP_FRAME_WIDTH, imageWidth)) {
                 capture.set(CV_CAP_PROP_MODE, imageWidth); // ??