diff --git a/conf.c b/conf.c
index 393e1b3f..9a08be1c 100644
--- a/conf.c
+++ b/conf.c
@@ -275,8 +275,14 @@ int parse_finit_conf(char *file)
 	rcsd     = strdup(FINIT_RCSD);
 
 	result = parse_conf(file);
-	if (!tty_num())
-		tty_register(FALLBACK_SHELL);
+	if (!tty_num()) {
+		char *fallback = FALLBACK_SHELL;
+
+		if (console)
+			fallback = console;
+
+		tty_register(fallback);
+	}
 
 	return result;
 }
diff --git a/finit.h b/finit.h
index c25ccc88..3790d8b8 100644
--- a/finit.h
+++ b/finit.h
@@ -54,6 +54,8 @@
 # define HAVE_DBUS
 #endif
 
+/* If the user configures us to not know about any getty use the system
+ * defined /bin/sh (or similar) as fallback for TTYs. */
 #ifndef FALLBACK_SHELL
 # define FALLBACK_SHELL		_PATH_BSHELL
 #endif