diff --git a/src/serial.sh b/src/serial.sh
index a49277c..0361089 100644
--- a/src/serial.sh
+++ b/src/serial.sh
@@ -46,8 +46,13 @@ done
 
 # Configure serial ports
 
-SERIAL_OPTS="\
-        -serial pty \
+if [[ "$CONSOLE" != [Yy]* ]]; then
+  SERIAL_OPTS="-serial pty"
+else
+  SERIAL_OPTS="-serial mon:stdio"
+fi
+
+SERIAL_OPTS="$SERIAL_OPTS \
         -device virtio-serial-pci,id=virtio-serial0,bus=pcie.0,addr=0x3 \
         -chardev socket,id=charchannel0,host=127.0.0.1,port=12345,reconnect=10 \
         -device virtserialport,bus=virtio-serial0.0,nr=1,chardev=charchannel0,id=channel0,name=vchannel"