diff --git a/release/tools/ec2.conf b/release/tools/ec2.conf
index 0ef5a211df1e..562647cd7024 100644
--- a/release/tools/ec2.conf
+++ b/release/tools/ec2.conf
@@ -68,6 +68,13 @@ vm_extra_pre_umount() {
 	echo 'autoboot_delay="-1"' >> ${DESTDIR}/boot/loader.conf
 	echo 'beastie_disable="YES"' >> ${DESTDIR}/boot/loader.conf
 
+	# The emulated keyboard attached to EC2 instances is inaccessible to
+	# users, and there is no mouse attached at all; disable to keyboard
+	# and the keyboard controller (to which the mouse would attach, if
+	# one existed) in order to save time in device probing.
+	echo 'hint.atkbd.0.disabled=1' >> ${DESTDIR}/boot/loader.conf
+	echo 'hint.atkbdc.0.disabled=1' >> ${DESTDIR}/boot/loader.conf
+
 	# EC2 has two consoles: An emulated serial port ("system log"),
 	# which has been present since 2006; and a VGA console ("instance
 	# screenshot") which was introduced in 2016.