diff --git a/loki/bulk/scheduler.py b/loki/bulk/scheduler.py
index 1cc726caa..6821d2b55 100644
--- a/loki/bulk/scheduler.py
+++ b/loki/bulk/scheduler.py
@@ -657,10 +657,7 @@ def process(self, transformation):
                             continue
 
                     _item = items[0]
-                    transformation.apply(
-                        items[0].source, role=_item.role, mode=_item.mode,
-                        item=_item, items=items, targets=_item.targets,
-                    )
+                    transformation.apply(items[0].source, items=items)
             else:
                 for item in traversal:
                     if item_filter and not isinstance(item, item_filter):
diff --git a/loki/transform/transformation.py b/loki/transform/transformation.py
index c6ac564ea..2723a2a84 100644
--- a/loki/transform/transformation.py
+++ b/loki/transform/transformation.py
@@ -191,15 +191,14 @@ def apply_file(self, sourcefile, **kwargs):
         role = kwargs.pop('role', None)
         targets = kwargs.pop('targets', None)
 
-        if 'items' in kwargs:
+        if items:
             # TODO: This special logic is required for the
             # DependencyTransformation to capture certain corner
             # cases. Once the module wrapping is split into its
             # own transformation, we can probably simplify this.
 
             # We consider the sourcefile to be a "kernel" file if all items are kernels
-            if all(item.role == 'kernel' for item in items):
-                role = 'kernel'
+            role = 'kernel' if all(item.role == 'kernel' for item in items) else 'driver'
 
             if targets is None:
                 # We collect the targets for file/module-level imports from all items