diff --git a/sys/dev/xen/console/xen_console.c b/sys/dev/xen/console/xen_console.c
index d7ffb591768e..7d10c1871e98 100644
--- a/sys/dev/xen/console/xen_console.c
+++ b/sys/dev/xen/console/xen_console.c
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ __FBSDID("$FreeBSD$");
 #include <sys/cons.h>
 #include <sys/kdb.h>
 #include <sys/proc.h>
+#include <sys/reboot.h>
 
 #include <machine/stdarg.h>
 
@@ -590,7 +591,7 @@ xencons_cnprobe(struct consdev *cp)
 	if (!xen_domain())
 		return;
 
-	cp->cn_pri = CN_REMOTE;
+	cp->cn_pri = (boothowto & RB_SERIAL) ? CN_REMOTE : CN_NORMAL;
 	sprintf(cp->cn_name, "%s0", driver_name);
 }