diff --git a/release/rc.local b/release/rc.local
index 943c175ddd52..a2c1676313c5 100755
--- a/release/rc.local
+++ b/release/rc.local
@@ -1,7 +1,57 @@
 #!/bin/sh
-# $FreeBSD$
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-2-Clause
+#
+# Copyright (c) 2022 Jessica Clarke <jrtc27@FreeBSD.org>
+#
+# Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+# modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+# are met:
+# 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+#    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+# 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+#    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+#    documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+#
+# THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR AND CONTRIBUTORS ``AS IS'' AND
+# ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
+# IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
+# ARE DISCLAIMED.  IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE
+# FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
+# DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS
+# OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION)
+# HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT
+# LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY
+# OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
+# SUCH DAMAGE.
+#
+
+bsdinstall_multicons_disabled()
+{
+	local var value
+
+	var=bsdinstall.multicons_disable
+	value=`kenv -q $var`
+	case "${value:-NO}" in
+	[Yy][Ee][Ss]|[Tt][Rr][Uu][Ee]|[Oo][Nn]|1)
+		return 0
+		;;
+	[Nn][Oo]|[Ff][Aa][Ll][Ss][Ee]|[Oo][Ff][Ff]|0)
+		return 1
+		;;
+	*)
+		warn "$var is not set properly, ignoring"
+		return 1
+		;;
+	esac
+}
 
 # resolv.conf from DHCP ends up in here, so make sure the directory exists
 mkdir /tmp/bsdinstall_etc
 
-/usr/libexec/bsdinstall/startbsdinstall
+if bsdinstall_multicons_disabled; then
+	/usr/libexec/bsdinstall/startbsdinstall primary
+else
+	echo
+	/usr/libexec/bsdinstall/runconsoles /usr/libexec/bsdinstall/startbsdinstall %
+fi
diff --git a/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/startbsdinstall b/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/startbsdinstall
index 3a5a07e85b4d..0a8207df9bd8 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/startbsdinstall
+++ b/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/startbsdinstall
@@ -45,7 +45,10 @@ export TERM
 resizewin -z
 
 if [ -f /etc/installerconfig ]; then
-	if bsdinstall script /etc/installerconfig; then
+	if [ "$1" != "primary" ]; then
+		bsddialog --backtitle "FreeBSD Installer" --title "Installing" --msgbox "FreeBSD is being installed from a script; please use the primary console." 0 0
+		. "$0"
+	elif bsdinstall script /etc/installerconfig; then
 		bsddialog --backtitle "FreeBSD Installer" --title "Complete" --no-cancel --ok-label "Reboot" --pause "Installation of FreeBSD complete! Rebooting in 10 seconds" 10 30 10
 		reboot
 	else