--- a/ext/hls/gsthlsdemux.c
+++ b/ext/hls/gsthlsdemux.c
@@ -595,6 +595,10 @@
     return FALSE;
   }
 
+  /* use max playlist quality if connection speed not set */
+  if (demux->connection_speed == 0)
+    demux->connection_speed = 4294967;
+
   /* select the initial variant stream */
   if (demux->connection_speed == 0) {
     variant = hlsdemux->master->default_variant;