diff --git a/src/videojs-http-streaming.js b/src/videojs-http-streaming.js
index 6b7283762..794386864 100644
--- a/src/videojs-http-streaming.js
+++ b/src/videojs-http-streaming.js
@@ -511,6 +511,12 @@ class VhsHandler extends Component {
       videojs.log.warn('Using hls options is deprecated. Use vhs instead.');
     }
 
+    // if a tech level `initialBandwidth` option was passed
+    // use that over the VHS level `bandwidth` option
+    if (typeof options.initialBandwidth === 'number') {
+      this.options_.bandwidth = options.initialBandwidth;
+    }
+
     this.logger_ = logger('VhsHandler');
 
     // tech.player() is deprecated but setup a reference to HLS for
diff --git a/test/videojs-http-streaming.test.js b/test/videojs-http-streaming.test.js
index f20bab5fa..e8f259329 100644
--- a/test/videojs-http-streaming.test.js
+++ b/test/videojs-http-streaming.test.js
@@ -2913,6 +2913,36 @@ QUnit.test(
   }
 );
 
+QUnit.test('respects initialBandwidth option on the tech', function(assert) {
+  this.player.dispose();
+  this.player = createPlayer({ html5: { initialBandwidth: 0 } });
+
+  this.player.src({
+    src: 'http://example.com/media.m3u8',
+    type: 'application/vnd.apple.mpegurl'
+  });
+
+  this.clock.tick(1);
+
+  openMediaSource(this.player, this.clock);
+  assert.equal(this.player.tech_.vhs.bandwidth, 0, 'set bandwidth to 0');
+});
+
+QUnit.test('initialBandwidth option on the tech take precedence on over vhs bandwidth option', function(assert) {
+  this.player.dispose();
+  this.player = createPlayer({ html5: { initialBandwidth: 0, vhs: { bandwidth: 100 } } });
+
+  this.player.src({
+    src: 'http://example.com/media.m3u8',
+    type: 'application/vnd.apple.mpegurl'
+  });
+
+  this.clock.tick(1);
+
+  openMediaSource(this.player, this.clock);
+  assert.equal(this.player.tech_.vhs.bandwidth, 0, 'set bandwidth to 0');
+});
+
 QUnit.test('uses default bandwidth if browser is Android', function(assert) {
   this.player.dispose();