diff --git a/sys/kern/init_main.c b/sys/kern/init_main.c
--- a/sys/kern/init_main.c
+++ b/sys/kern/init_main.c
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@
 #include <sys/boottrace.h>
 #include <sys/conf.h>
 #include <sys/cpuset.h>
+#include <sys/cons.h>
 #include <sys/dtrace_bsd.h>
 #include <sys/epoch.h>
 #include <sys/eventhandler.h>
@@ -740,6 +741,10 @@
 	/* Wipe GELI passphrase from the environment. */
 	kern_unsetenv("kern.geom.eli.passphrase");
 
+	/* If muted, re-enable console starting now. */
+	if ((boothowto & RB_MUTEMSGS) == RB_MUTEMSGS)
+		cn_mute = 0;
+
 	/* For Multicons, report which console is primary to both */
 	if (boothowto & RB_MULTIPLE) {
 		if (boothowto & RB_SERIAL)
diff --git a/sys/kern/vfs_mountroot.c b/sys/kern/vfs_mountroot.c
--- a/sys/kern/vfs_mountroot.c
+++ b/sys/kern/vfs_mountroot.c
@@ -522,6 +522,10 @@
 	char *mnt;
 	int error;
 
+	/* Enable console when there is no disk specified. */
+	if (boothowto & (RB_MUTEMSGS | RB_MUTE))
+		cn_mute = 0;
+
 	vfs_mountroot_wait();
 
 	printf("\nLoader variables:\n");
@@ -804,6 +808,8 @@
 	}
  out:
 	if (error) {
+		if ((boothowto & RB_MUTEMSGS) == RB_MUTEMSGS)
+			cn_mute = 0;
 		printf("Mounting from %s:%s failed with error %d",
 		    fs, dev, error);
 		if (errmsg[0] != '\0')