diff --git a/sys/dev/vt/vt_core.c b/sys/dev/vt/vt_core.c
--- a/sys/dev/vt/vt_core.c
+++ b/sys/dev/vt/vt_core.c
@@ -594,7 +594,13 @@
 
 	VT_LOCK(vd);
 	if (curvw == vw) {
-		/* Nothing to do. */
+		/*
+		 * Nothing to do, except ensure the driver has the opportunity to
+		 * switch to console mode when panicking, making sure the panic
+		 * is readable (even when a GUI was using ttyv0).
+		 */
+		if ((kdb_active || panicstr) && vd->vd_driver->vd_postswitch)
+			vd->vd_driver->vd_postswitch(vd);
 		VT_UNLOCK(vd);
 		return (0);
 	}