diff --git a/conf.c b/conf.c
index 4d5b289a..9f422b85 100644
--- a/conf.c
+++ b/conf.c
@@ -530,7 +530,11 @@ int conf_parse_config(void)
 		else
 			fallback = strdup(FALLBACK_SHELL);
 
-		tty_register(fallback);
+		if (tty_register(fallback)) {
+			free(fallback);
+			if (console)
+				console = NULL;
+		}
 	}
 
 	return result;