diff --git a/torchvision/transforms/functional.py b/torchvision/transforms/functional.py
index 8ae75f84c5b..559d89289ea 100644
--- a/torchvision/transforms/functional.py
+++ b/torchvision/transforms/functional.py
@@ -85,14 +85,8 @@ def to_tensor(pic):
         img = 255 * torch.from_numpy(np.array(pic, np.uint8, copy=False))
     else:
         img = torch.ByteTensor(torch.ByteStorage.from_buffer(pic.tobytes()))
-    # PIL image mode: L, LA, P, I, F, RGB, YCbCr, RGBA, CMYK
-    if pic.mode == 'YCbCr':
-        nchannel = 3
-    elif pic.mode == 'I;16':
-        nchannel = 1
-    else:
-        nchannel = len(pic.mode)
-    img = img.view(pic.size[1], pic.size[0], nchannel)
+
+    img = img.view(pic.size[1], pic.size[0], len(pic.getbands()))
     # put it from HWC to CHW format
     # yikes, this transpose takes 80% of the loading time/CPU
     img = img.transpose(0, 1).transpose(0, 2).contiguous()