Index: sys/kern/kern_shutdown.c
===================================================================
--- sys/kern/kern_shutdown.c
+++ sys/kern/kern_shutdown.c
@@ -426,7 +426,7 @@
 void
 kern_reboot(int howto)
 {
-	static int once = 0;
+	static int progress = 0;
 
 	/*
 	 * Normal paths here don't hold Giant, but we can wind up here
@@ -462,33 +462,64 @@
 	/*
 	 * Do any callouts that should be done BEFORE syncing the filesystems.
 	 */
-	EVENTHANDLER_INVOKE(shutdown_pre_sync, howto);
+	if (progress == 0) {
+		progress++;
+		EVENTHANDLER_INVOKE(shutdown_pre_sync, howto);
+	}
 
 	/* 
 	 * Now sync filesystems
 	 */
-	if (!cold && (howto & RB_NOSYNC) == 0 && once == 0) {
-		once = 1;
-		bufshutdown(show_busybufs);
+	if (progress == 1) {
+		progress++;
+		if (!cold && (howto & RB_NOSYNC) == 0) {
+			bufshutdown(show_busybufs);
+		}
 	}
 
-	print_uptime();
+	/*
+	 * Report uptime and grab the console
+	 */
+	if (progress == 2) {
+		progress++;
 
-	cngrab();
+		print_uptime();
+		cngrab();
+	}
 
 	/*
 	 * Ok, now do things that assume all filesystem activity has
 	 * been completed.
 	 */
-	EVENTHANDLER_INVOKE(shutdown_post_sync, howto);
+	if (progress == 3) {
+		progress++;
+		EVENTHANDLER_INVOKE(shutdown_post_sync, howto);
+	}
 
-	if ((howto & (RB_HALT|RB_DUMP)) == RB_DUMP && !cold && !dumping) 
-		doadump(TRUE);
+	/*
+	 * Try to do a dump, if appropriate.
+	 */
+	if (progress == 4) {
+		progress++;
 
-	/* Now that we're going to really halt the system... */
-	EVENTHANDLER_INVOKE(shutdown_final, howto);
+		if ((howto & (RB_HALT|RB_DUMP)) == RB_DUMP && !cold && !dumping)
+			doadump(TRUE);
+	}
+
+	/*
+	 * Let's give the 'nice ways' of shutting down the system a shot
+	 */
+	if (progress == 5) {
+		progress++;
 
-	for(;;) ;	/* safety against shutdown_reset not working */
+		EVENTHANDLER_INVOKE(shutdown_final, howto);
+	}
+
+	/*
+	 * And if all else fails, tight loop... Though one of the final handlers
+	 * should have already reset or shut down.
+	 */
+	for(;;) ;
 	/* NOTREACHED */
 }