diff --git a/src/lerobot/cameras/zmq/image_server.py b/src/lerobot/cameras/zmq/image_server.py
index b8b6f8e74..58747d546 100644
--- a/src/lerobot/cameras/zmq/image_server.py
+++ b/src/lerobot/cameras/zmq/image_server.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ import cv2
 import numpy as np
 import zmq
 
-from ..configs import ColorMode
+from ..configs import ColorMode, Cv2Backends
 from ..opencv import OpenCVCamera, OpenCVCameraConfig
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -103,6 +103,9 @@ class ImageServer:
                 width=shape[1],
                 height=shape[0],
                 color_mode=ColorMode.RGB,
+                # Some UVC devices are only settable through V4L2: the auto-selected
+                # backend can open them but refuses `set()`, which reads as a failure.
+                backend=cfg.get("backend", Cv2Backends.ANY),
             )
             camera = OpenCVCamera(cam_config)
             camera.connect()
diff --git a/src/lerobot/robots/unitree_g1/run_g1_server.py b/src/lerobot/robots/unitree_g1/run_g1_server.py
index abf1aad8f..c61dbdfb2 100644
--- a/src/lerobot/robots/unitree_g1/run_g1_server.py
+++ b/src/lerobot/robots/unitree_g1/run_g1_server.py
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ from unitree_sdk2py.idl.default import unitree_hg_msg_dds__LowCmd_
 from unitree_sdk2py.idl.unitree_hg.msg.dds_ import LowCmd_ as hg_LowCmd, LowState_ as hg_LowState
 from unitree_sdk2py.utils.crc import CRC
 
+from lerobot.cameras.configs import Cv2Backends
 from lerobot.cameras.zmq.image_server import ImageServer
 
 # DDS topic names follow Unitree SDK naming conventions
@@ -72,6 +73,7 @@ def cameras_from_args(args: argparse.Namespace) -> dict:
         "head_camera": {
             "device_id": int(device) if str(device).isdigit() else device,
             "shape": [args.camera_height, args.camera_width],
+            "backend": Cv2Backends[args.camera_backend.upper()],
         }
     }
 
@@ -290,6 +292,12 @@ def main() -> None:
         default="4",
         help="Camera index or V4L2 path, e.g. 4 or /dev/video0 (default: 4)",
     )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--camera-backend",
+        default="any",
+        choices=[b.name.lower() for b in Cv2Backends],
+        help="OpenCV capture backend; use v4l2 for UVC cams that reject set() under any (default: any)",
+    )
     parser.add_argument("--camera-fps", type=int, default=30, help="Camera FPS (default: 30)")
     parser.add_argument("--camera-width", type=int, default=640, help="Camera width (default: 640)")
     parser.add_argument("--camera-height", type=int, default=480, help="Camera height (default: 480)")