diff --git a/src/backends/meta-monitor-manager-dummy.c b/src/backends/meta-monitor-manager-dummy.c
index ef3c3c330..315117e5c 100644
--- a/src/backends/meta-monitor-manager-dummy.c
+++ b/src/backends/meta-monitor-manager-dummy.c
@@ -159,12 +159,10 @@ append_monitor (MetaMonitorManager *manager,
       for (i = 0; specs[i]; ++i)
         {
           int width, height;
-          float refresh_rate = 60.0;
+          float refresh_rate;
 
-          if (sscanf (specs[i], "%dx%d@%f",
-                      &width, &height, &refresh_rate) == 3 ||
-              sscanf (specs[i], "%dx%d",
-                      &width, &height) == 2)
+          if (meta_parse_monitor_mode (specs[i], &width, &height, &refresh_rate,
+                                       60.0))
             {
               CrtcModeSpec *spec;
 
diff --git a/src/core/meta-context-main.c b/src/core/meta-context-main.c
index cc930116e..f673432f5 100644
--- a/src/core/meta-context-main.c
+++ b/src/core/meta-context-main.c
@@ -533,12 +533,9 @@ add_virtual_monitor_cb (const char  *option_name,
 {
   MetaContextMain *context_main = user_data;
   int width, height;
-  float refresh_rate = 60.0;
+  float refresh_rate;
 
-  if (sscanf (value, "%dx%d@%f",
-              &width, &height, &refresh_rate) == 3 ||
-      sscanf (value, "%dx%d",
-              &width, &height) == 2)
+  if (meta_parse_monitor_mode (value, &width, &height, &refresh_rate, 60.0))
     {
       g_autofree char *serial = NULL;
       MetaVirtualMonitorInfo *virtual_monitor;