diff --git a/libexec/rc/rc.d/virtual_oss b/libexec/rc/rc.d/virtual_oss
--- a/libexec/rc/rc.d/virtual_oss
+++ b/libexec/rc/rc.d/virtual_oss
@@ -34,8 +34,7 @@
 	-s 8ms \
 	-i 8 \
 	-f /dev/dsp${default_unit} \
-	-d dsp \
-	-t vdsp.ctl"
+	-d dsp"
 
 # Set to NO by default. Set it to "YES" to enable virtual_oss.
 : "${virtual_oss_enable:="NO"}"
diff --git a/sbin/devd/snd.conf b/sbin/devd/snd.conf
--- a/sbin/devd/snd.conf
+++ b/sbin/devd/snd.conf
@@ -7,11 +7,6 @@
 
 	# Other audio servers or device switching commands can be used here
 	# instead of virtual_oss(8).
-	#
-	# FIXME: We are hardcoding /dev/vdsp.ctl here, simply because it is a
-	# common virtual_oss control device name. Until we find a proper way to
-	# define control devices here, /dev/vdsp.ctl can be changed to the
-	# control device of choice.
 	action			"/usr/sbin/virtual_oss_cmd /dev/vdsp.ctl -R /dev/$cdev";
 };
 
diff --git a/usr.sbin/virtual_oss/virtual_oss/main.c b/usr.sbin/virtual_oss/virtual_oss/main.c
--- a/usr.sbin/virtual_oss/virtual_oss/main.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/virtual_oss/virtual_oss/main.c
@@ -1630,6 +1630,7 @@
 char voss_dsp_rx_device[VMAX_STRING];
 char voss_dsp_tx_device[VMAX_STRING];
 char voss_ctl_device[VMAX_STRING];
+static int have_default_ctldev = 0;
 
 uint32_t voss_jitter_up;
 uint32_t voss_jitter_down;
@@ -1914,6 +1915,16 @@
 			printf(SYSCTL_BASECLONE ": %d -> 0\n", voss_baseclone);
 			if (atexit(restore_baseclone) < 0)
 				return ("Could not set atexit callback");
+			/*
+			 * Hardcode control device name when we replace
+			 * /dev/dsp with our own. This is an easy way for other
+			 * programs to know which is the control device when we
+			 * have a virtual_oss-created /dev/dsp. For an example,
+			 * see sbin/devd/snd.conf.
+			 */
+			strlcpy(voss_ctl_device, "vdsp.ctl",
+			    sizeof(voss_ctl_device));
+			have_default_ctldev = 1;
 		}
 
 		/* create DSP character device */
@@ -2303,6 +2314,11 @@
 				return ("-s option requires a non-zero positive value");
 			break;
 		case 't':
+			if (have_default_ctldev) {
+				return ("Creating /dev/dsp automatically "
+				    "creates a /dev/vdsp.ctl control device "
+				    "and cannot be overwritten");
+			}
 			if (voss_ctl_device[0])
 				return ("-t parameter may only be used once");