diff --git a/stand/i386/libi386/comconsole.c b/stand/i386/libi386/comconsole.c
index 3fbb6a292c19..507cd0ec922f 100644
--- a/stand/i386/libi386/comconsole.c
+++ b/stand/i386/libi386/comconsole.c
@@ -338,12 +338,13 @@ comc_setup(int speed, int port)
 	char intbuf[64];
 	int tries;
 
-	unsetenv("hw.uart.console");
 	comc_curspeed = speed;
 	comc_port = port;
 	if ((comconsole.c_flags & (C_ACTIVEIN | C_ACTIVEOUT)) == 0)
 		return;
 
+	unsetenv("hw.uart.console");
+
 #define	COMC_TEST	0xbb
 	/*
 	 * Write byte to scratch register and read it out.