diff --git a/drivers/video/fbdev/core/fbmem.c b/drivers/video/fbdev/core/fbmem.c
index d787a344b3b8..1704deaf4152 100644
--- a/drivers/video/fbdev/core/fbmem.c
+++ b/drivers/video/fbdev/core/fbmem.c
@@ -1117,6 +1117,8 @@ static long do_fb_ioctl(struct fb_info *info, unsigned int cmd,
 	case FBIOPUT_VSCREENINFO:
 		if (copy_from_user(&var, argp, sizeof(var)))
 			return -EFAULT;
+		/* only for kernel-internal use */
+		var.activate &= ~FB_ACTIVATE_KD_TEXT;
 		console_lock();
 		lock_fb_info(info);
 		ret = fbcon_modechange_possible(info, &var);