diff --git a/karate-core/src/main/java/com/intuit/karate/driver/DriverOptions.java b/karate-core/src/main/java/com/intuit/karate/driver/DriverOptions.java
index 841ee61e3..2bf759e6c 100644
--- a/karate-core/src/main/java/com/intuit/karate/driver/DriverOptions.java
+++ b/karate-core/src/main/java/com/intuit/karate/driver/DriverOptions.java
@@ -268,9 +268,9 @@ public static Driver start(ScenarioContext context, Map<String, Object> options,
     private Map<String, Object> getCapabilities(String browserName) {
         Map<String, Object> map = webDriverCapabilities;
         if (map == null) {
-            map = new HashMap();
-            map.put("browserName", browserName);
+            map = new HashMap();           
         }
+        map.putIfAbsent("browserName", browserName);
         return Collections.singletonMap("capabilities", map);
     }