diff --git a/drivers/media/video/v4l1-compat.c b/drivers/media/video/v4l1-compat.c
index efb67d29fc0..ede8543818b 100644
--- a/drivers/media/video/v4l1-compat.c
+++ b/drivers/media/video/v4l1-compat.c
@@ -616,6 +616,8 @@ v4l_compat_translate_ioctl(struct inode         *inode,
 	case VIDIOCSPICT: /*  set tone controls & partial capture format  */
 	{
 		struct video_picture	*pict = arg;
+		int mem_err = 0, ovl_err = 0;
+
 		memset(&fbuf2, 0, sizeof(fbuf2));
 
 		set_v4l_control(inode, file,
@@ -628,33 +630,59 @@ v4l_compat_translate_ioctl(struct inode         *inode,
 				V4L2_CID_SATURATION, pict->colour, drv);
 		set_v4l_control(inode, file,
 				V4L2_CID_WHITENESS, pict->whiteness, drv);
+		/*
+		 * V4L1 uses this ioctl to set both memory capture and overlay
+		 * pixel format, while V4L2 has two different ioctls for this.
+		 * Some cards may not support one or the other, and may support
+		 * different pixel formats for memory vs overlay.
+		 */
 
 		fmt2 = kzalloc(sizeof(*fmt2),GFP_KERNEL);
 		fmt2->type = V4L2_BUF_TYPE_VIDEO_CAPTURE;
 		err = drv(inode, file, VIDIOC_G_FMT, fmt2);
-		if (err < 0)
+		/* If VIDIOC_G_FMT failed, then the driver likely doesn't
+		   support memory capture.  Trying to set the memory capture
+		   parameters would be pointless.  */
+		if (err < 0) {
 			dprintk("VIDIOCSPICT / VIDIOC_G_FMT: %d\n",err);
-		if (fmt2->fmt.pix.pixelformat !=
-		    palette_to_pixelformat(pict->palette)) {
+			mem_err = -1000;  /* didn't even try */
+		} else if (fmt2->fmt.pix.pixelformat !=
+			 palette_to_pixelformat(pict->palette)) {
 			fmt2->fmt.pix.pixelformat = palette_to_pixelformat(
 				pict->palette);
-			err = drv(inode, file, VIDIOC_S_FMT, fmt2);
-			if (err < 0)
-				dprintk("VIDIOCSPICT / VIDIOC_S_FMT: %d\n",err);
+			mem_err = drv(inode, file, VIDIOC_S_FMT, fmt2);
+			if (mem_err < 0)
+				dprintk("VIDIOCSPICT / VIDIOC_S_FMT: %d\n",
+					mem_err);
 		}
 
 		err = drv(inode, file, VIDIOC_G_FBUF, &fbuf2);
-		if (err < 0)
+		/* If VIDIOC_G_FBUF failed, then the driver likely doesn't
+		   support overlay.  Trying to set the overlay parameters
+		   would be quite pointless.  */
+		if (err < 0) {
 			dprintk("VIDIOCSPICT / VIDIOC_G_FBUF: %d\n",err);
-		if (fbuf2.fmt.pixelformat !=
-		    palette_to_pixelformat(pict->palette)) {
+			ovl_err = -1000;  /* didn't even try */
+		} else if (fbuf2.fmt.pixelformat !=
+			 palette_to_pixelformat(pict->palette)) {
 			fbuf2.fmt.pixelformat = palette_to_pixelformat(
 				pict->palette);
-			err = drv(inode, file, VIDIOC_S_FBUF, &fbuf2);
-			if (err < 0)
-				dprintk("VIDIOCSPICT / VIDIOC_S_FBUF: %d\n",err);
-			err = 0; /* likely fails for non-root */
+			ovl_err = drv(inode, file, VIDIOC_S_FBUF, &fbuf2);
+			if (ovl_err < 0)
+				dprintk("VIDIOCSPICT / VIDIOC_S_FBUF: %d\n",
+					ovl_err);
 		}
+		if (ovl_err < 0 && mem_err < 0)
+			/* ioctl failed, couldn't set either parameter */
+			if (mem_err != -1000) {
+			    err = mem_err;
+			} else if (ovl_err == -EPERM) {
+			    err = 0;
+			} else {
+			    err = ovl_err;
+			}
+		else
+			err = 0;
 		break;
 	}
 	case VIDIOCGTUNER: /*  get tuner information  */