diff --git a/MagickWand/operation.c b/MagickWand/operation.c
index f48ccc4..ef72e3c 100644
--- a/MagickWand/operation.c
+++ b/MagickWand/operation.c
@@ -776,6 +776,9 @@
             if (channel < 0)
               CLIWandExceptArgBreak(OptionError,"UnrecognizedChannelType",
                    option,arg1);
+            (void) SetImageOption(_image_info,option+1,arg1);
+          } else {
+            (void) SetImageOption(_image_info,option+1,"default");
           }
           _image_info->channel=(ChannelType) channel;
           break;
@@ -3088,7 +3091,7 @@
         {
           /* WARNING: This can generate multiple images! */
           /* FUTURE - this may be replaced by a "-channel" method */
-          new_image=SeparateImages(_image,_image_info->channel,_exception);
+          new_image=SeparateImages(_image,_exception);
           break;
         }
       if (LocaleCompare("sepia-tone",option+1) == 0)