diff --git a/lib/hls/hls_parser.js b/lib/hls/hls_parser.js
index d7c393ccd7f..c0b7e5d0502 100644
--- a/lib/hls/hls_parser.js
+++ b/lib/hls/hls_parser.js
@@ -2032,7 +2032,7 @@ shaka.hls.HlsParser = class {
       width: undefined,
       height: undefined,
       bandwidth: undefined,
-      roles: [],
+      roles: characteristics ? [characteristics] : [],
       forced,
       channelsCount,
       audioSamplingRate: null,