diff --git a/android/src/com/google/zxing/client/android/camera/open/OpenCameraInterface.java b/android/src/com/google/zxing/client/android/camera/open/OpenCameraInterface.java
index 3285abcb8..f6d33acfe 100644
--- a/android/src/com/google/zxing/client/android/camera/open/OpenCameraInterface.java
+++ b/android/src/com/google/zxing/client/android/camera/open/OpenCameraInterface.java
@@ -30,29 +30,46 @@ public final class OpenCameraInterface {
   /**
    * Opens the requested camera with {@link Camera#open(int)}, if one exists.
    *
-   * @param cameraId camera ID of the camera to use
+   * @param cameraId camera ID of the camera to use. A negative value means "no preference"
    * @return handle to {@link Camera} that was opened
    */
   public static Camera open(int cameraId) {
-    if (cameraId < 0) {
-      Log.w(TAG, "Requested invalid camera ID: " + cameraId);
-      return null;
-    }
-	
+    
     int numCameras = Camera.getNumberOfCameras();
-	
     if (numCameras == 0) {
       Log.w(TAG, "No cameras!");
       return null;
     }
-	
+	  
+	  boolean explicitRequest = cameraId >= 0;
+	  
+	  if (!explicitRequest) {
+	    // Select a camera if no explicit camera requested
+      int index = 0;
+      while (index < numCameras) {
+        Camera.CameraInfo cameraInfo = new Camera.CameraInfo();
+        Camera.getCameraInfo(index, cameraInfo);
+        if (cameraInfo.facing == Camera.CameraInfo.CAMERA_FACING_BACK) {
+          break;
+        }
+        index++;
+      }
+      
+      cameraId = index;
+	  }
+	  
     Camera camera;
     if (cameraId < numCameras) {
       Log.i(TAG, "Opening camera #" + cameraId);
       camera = Camera.open(cameraId);
     } else {
-      Log.w(TAG, "Requested camera does not exist: " + cameraId);
-      camera = null;
+      if (explicitRequest) {
+        Log.w(TAG, "Requested camera does not exist: " + cameraId);
+        camera = null;
+      } else {
+        Log.i(TAG, "No camera facing back; returning camera #0");
+        camera = Camera.open(0);
+      }
     }
     
     return camera;
@@ -65,33 +82,7 @@ public final class OpenCameraInterface {
    * @return handle to {@link Camera} that was opened
    */
   public static Camera open() {
-    
-    int numCameras = Camera.getNumberOfCameras();
-    if (numCameras == 0) {
-      Log.w(TAG, "No cameras!");
-      return null;
-    }
-
-    int index = 0;
-    while (index < numCameras) {
-      Camera.CameraInfo cameraInfo = new Camera.CameraInfo();
-      Camera.getCameraInfo(index, cameraInfo);
-      if (cameraInfo.facing == Camera.CameraInfo.CAMERA_FACING_BACK) {
-        break;
-      }
-      index++;
-    }
-    
-    Camera camera;
-    if (index < numCameras) {
-      Log.i(TAG, "Opening camera #" + index);
-      camera = Camera.open(index);
-    } else {
-      Log.i(TAG, "No camera facing back; returning camera #0");
-      camera = Camera.open(0);
-    }
-
-    return camera;
+    return open(-1);
   }
 
 }