diff --git a/drivers/tty/vt/vt.c b/drivers/tty/vt/vt.c
index 34aa39d1aed9f4d8a3f5f4e31bf615b67cc6b505..2456afaf1c618c8e646cd2b8ed5c80576b101ab0 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/vt/vt.c
+++ b/drivers/tty/vt/vt.c
@@ -3326,8 +3326,9 @@ static int __init con_init(void)
 
 	console_lock();
 
-	if (conswitchp)
-		display_desc = conswitchp->con_startup();
+	if (!conswitchp)
+		conswitchp = &dummy_con;
+	display_desc = conswitchp->con_startup();
 	if (!display_desc) {
 		fg_console = 0;
 		console_unlock();