diff --git a/MagickCore/option.c b/MagickCore/option.c
index 0d61e00..18a1865 100644
--- a/MagickCore/option.c
+++ b/MagickCore/option.c
@@ -2538,6 +2538,8 @@
     channel;
 
   GetMagickToken(channels,NULL,token);
+  if ((*token == ';') || (*token == '|'))
+    return(RedPixelChannel);
   channel=ParseCommandOption(MagickPixelChannelOptions,MagickTrue,token);
   if (channel >= 0)
     return(channel);