diff --git a/src/arch/i386/image/bootsector.c b/src/arch/i386/image/bootsector.c
index cb164fda..9a089e6b 100644
--- a/src/arch/i386/image/bootsector.c
+++ b/src/arch/i386/image/bootsector.c
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ FILE_LICENCE ( GPL2_OR_LATER );
 #include <realmode.h>
 #include <biosint.h>
 #include <bootsector.h>
+#include <ipxe/console.h>
 
 /** Vector for storing original INT 18 handler
  *
@@ -60,6 +61,9 @@ int call_bootsector ( unsigned int segment, unsigned int offset,
 		      unsigned int drive ) {
 	int discard_b, discard_D, discard_d;
 
+	/* Reset console, since boot sector will probably use it */
+	console_reset();
+
 	DBG ( "Booting from boot sector at %04x:%04x\n", segment, offset );
 
 	/* Hook INTs 18 and 19 to capture failure paths */
diff --git a/src/arch/i386/image/pxe_image.c b/src/arch/i386/image/pxe_image.c
index 4a7d874b..dc28f608 100644
--- a/src/arch/i386/image/pxe_image.c
+++ b/src/arch/i386/image/pxe_image.c
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ FILE_LICENCE ( GPL2_OR_LATER );
 #include <ipxe/segment.h>
 #include <ipxe/netdevice.h>
 #include <ipxe/features.h>
+#include <ipxe/console.h>
 
 FEATURE ( FEATURE_IMAGE, "PXE", DHCP_EB_FEATURE_PXE, 1 );
 
@@ -74,6 +75,9 @@ static int pxe_exec ( struct image *image ) {
 	/* Set PXE command line */
 	pxe_cmdline = image->cmdline;
 
+	/* Reset console since PXE NBP will probably use it */
+	console_reset();
+
 	/* Start PXE NBP */
 	rc = pxe_start_nbp();
 
diff --git a/src/core/console.c b/src/core/console.c
index 73baf7f6..5f3c28d8 100644
--- a/src/core/console.c
+++ b/src/core/console.c
@@ -121,3 +121,35 @@ int getchar ( void ) {
 int iskey ( void ) {
 	return has_input() ? 1 : 0;
 }
+
+/**
+ * Configure console
+ *
+ * @v config		Console configuration
+ * @ret rc		Return status code
+ *
+ * The configuration is passed to all configurable consoles, including
+ * those which are currently disabled.  Consoles may choose to enable
+ * or disable themselves depending upon the configuration.
+ *
+ * If configuration fails, then all consoles will be reset.
+ */
+int console_configure ( struct console_configuration *config ) {
+	struct console_driver *console;
+	int rc;
+
+	/* Try to configure each console */
+	for_each_table_entry ( console, CONSOLES ) {
+		if ( ( console->configure ) &&
+		     ( ( rc = console->configure ( config ) ) != 0 ) )
+				goto err;
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+
+ err:
+	/* Reset all consoles, avoiding a potential infinite loop */
+	if ( config )
+		console_reset();
+	return rc;
+}
diff --git a/src/core/init.c b/src/core/init.c
index 56274419..7ea0730f 100644
--- a/src/core/init.c
+++ b/src/core/init.c
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 FILE_LICENCE ( GPL2_OR_LATER );
 
 #include <ipxe/device.h>
+#include <ipxe/console.h>
 #include <ipxe/init.h>
 
 /** @file
@@ -95,5 +96,8 @@ void shutdown ( int flags ) {
 			startup_fn->shutdown ( flags );
 	}
 
+	/* Reset console */
+	console_reset();
+
 	started = 0;
 }
diff --git a/src/include/ipxe/console.h b/src/include/ipxe/console.h
index 2fcc4150..9c2620bc 100644
--- a/src/include/ipxe/console.h
+++ b/src/include/ipxe/console.h
@@ -77,6 +77,13 @@ struct console_driver {
 	 * will not block.
 	 */
 	int ( * iskey ) ( void );
+	/**
+	 * Configure console
+	 *
+	 * @v config		Console configuration, or NULL to reset
+	 * @ret rc		Return status code
+	 */
+	int ( * configure ) ( struct console_configuration *config );
 	/**
 	 * Console usage bitmask
 	 *
@@ -170,5 +177,15 @@ console_set_usage ( int usage ) {
 
 extern int iskey ( void );
 extern int getkey ( unsigned long timeout );
+extern int console_configure ( struct console_configuration *config );
+
+/**
+ * Reset console
+ *
+ */
+static inline __attribute__ (( always_inline )) void console_reset ( void ) {
+
+	console_configure ( NULL );
+}
 
 #endif /* _IPXE_CONSOLE_H */