diff --git a/drivers/tty/vt/vt.c b/drivers/tty/vt/vt.c
index 8fd89687d068e58b5546a153f8ea894c32782f47..c8067aef4b86d4b3ab623f8f9cbadad8fc78e0ee 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/vt/vt.c
+++ b/drivers/tty/vt/vt.c
@@ -638,7 +638,7 @@ static inline void save_screen(struct vc_data *vc)
  *	Redrawing of screen
  */
 
-static void clear_buffer_attributes(struct vc_data *vc)
+void clear_buffer_attributes(struct vc_data *vc)
 {
 	unsigned short *p = (unsigned short *)vc->vc_origin;
 	int count = vc->vc_screenbuf_size / 2;
diff --git a/drivers/video/console/vgacon.c b/drivers/video/console/vgacon.c
index d449a74d4a31297b48b25b9a0d2931ad127f4b96..5855d17d19ac9b8d493c13d7f0dd879ccf0710e4 100644
--- a/drivers/video/console/vgacon.c
+++ b/drivers/video/console/vgacon.c
@@ -1064,7 +1064,7 @@ static int vgacon_do_font_op(struct vgastate *state,char *arg,int set,int ch512)
 	unsigned short video_port_status = vga_video_port_reg + 6;
 	int font_select = 0x00, beg, i;
 	char *charmap;
-	
+	bool clear_attribs = false;
 	if (vga_video_type != VIDEO_TYPE_EGAM) {
 		charmap = (char *) VGA_MAP_MEM(colourmap, 0);
 		beg = 0x0e;
@@ -1169,12 +1169,6 @@ static int vgacon_do_font_op(struct vgastate *state,char *arg,int set,int ch512)
 
 	/* if 512 char mode is already enabled don't re-enable it. */
 	if ((set) && (ch512 != vga_512_chars)) {
-		/* attribute controller */
-		for (i = 0; i < MAX_NR_CONSOLES; i++) {
-			struct vc_data *c = vc_cons[i].d;
-			if (c && c->vc_sw == &vga_con)
-				c->vc_hi_font_mask = ch512 ? 0x0800 : 0;
-		}
 		vga_512_chars = ch512;
 		/* 256-char: enable intensity bit
 		   512-char: disable intensity bit */
@@ -1185,8 +1179,22 @@ static int vgacon_do_font_op(struct vgastate *state,char *arg,int set,int ch512)
 		   it means, but it works, and it appears necessary */
 		inb_p(video_port_status);
 		vga_wattr(state->vgabase, VGA_AR_ENABLE_DISPLAY, 0);	
+		clear_attribs = true;
 	}
 	raw_spin_unlock_irq(&vga_lock);
+
+	if (clear_attribs) {
+		for (i = 0; i < MAX_NR_CONSOLES; i++) {
+			struct vc_data *c = vc_cons[i].d;
+			if (c && c->vc_sw == &vga_con) {
+				/* force hi font mask to 0, so we always clear
+				   the bit on either transition */
+				c->vc_hi_font_mask = 0x00;
+				clear_buffer_attributes(c);
+				c->vc_hi_font_mask = ch512 ? 0x0800 : 0;
+			}
+		}
+	}
 	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/include/linux/vt_kern.h b/include/linux/vt_kern.h
index 50ae7d0c279ed2ddbdb626aa67dcc9abad619781..1f55665d7b4930677e10b15a965139263e126b70 100644
--- a/include/linux/vt_kern.h
+++ b/include/linux/vt_kern.h
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ int con_set_cmap(unsigned char __user *cmap);
 int con_get_cmap(unsigned char __user *cmap);
 void scrollback(struct vc_data *vc, int lines);
 void scrollfront(struct vc_data *vc, int lines);
+void clear_buffer_attributes(struct vc_data *vc);
 void update_region(struct vc_data *vc, unsigned long start, int count);
 void redraw_screen(struct vc_data *vc, int is_switch);
 #define update_screen(x) redraw_screen(x, 0)