diff --git a/hw/xfree86/common/console.c b/hw/xfree86/common/console.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..209abaca44
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hw/xfree86/common/console.c
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT OR X11
+ *
+ * @copyright Enrico Weigelt, metux IT consult <info@metux.net>
+ * @brief console driver interface
+ */
+#include <xorg-config.h>
+
+#include <stddef.h>
+
+#include "xf86_console_priv.h"
+
+/* user requested VT number (-1 = unspecified) */
+int xf86_console_requested_vt = -1;
+
+/* close callback of current console backend - may be NULL */
+void (*xf86_console_proc_close)(void) = NULL;
+
+/* reactivation callback (eg. on server regeneration) - may be NULL */
+void (*xf86_console_proc_reactivate)(void) = NULL;
+
+/* ring the system bell */
+void (*xf86_console_proc_bell)(int loudness, int pitch, int duration) = NULL;
+
+/* switch away from VT */
+bool (*xf86_console_proc_switch_away)(void) = NULL;
diff --git a/hw/xfree86/common/meson.build b/hw/xfree86/common/meson.build
index 161e005f75..55798bdc77 100644
--- a/hw/xfree86/common/meson.build
+++ b/hw/xfree86/common/meson.build
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 srcs_xorg_common = [
+    'console.c',
     'xf86fbBus.c',
     'xf86noBus.c',
     'xf86Configure.c',
diff --git a/hw/xfree86/common/xf86_console_priv.h b/hw/xfree86/common/xf86_console_priv.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e22429392e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hw/xfree86/common/xf86_console_priv.h
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT OR X11
+ *
+ * @copyright Enrico Weigelt, metux IT consult <info@metux.net>
+ * @brief definitions for XF86 console driver interface
+ */
+#ifndef __XSERVER_XFREE86_XF86_CONSOLE_PRIV_H
+#define __XSERVER_XFREE86_XF86_CONSOLE_PRIV_H
+
+#include <stdbool.h>
+
+/* user requested VT number (-1 = unspecified) */
+extern int xf86_console_requested_vt;
+
+/* close callback of current console backend - may be NULL */
+extern void (*xf86_console_proc_close)(void);
+
+/* reactivation callback (eg. on server regeneration) - may be NULL */
+extern void (*xf86_console_proc_reactivate)(void);
+
+/* ring the system bell */
+extern void (*xf86_console_proc_bell)(int loudness, int pitch, int duration);
+
+/* switch away from VT */
+extern bool (*xf86_console_proc_switch_away)(void);
+
+#endif /* __XSERVER_XFREE86_XF86_CONSOLE_PRIV_H */
diff --git a/hw/xfree86/os-support/bsd/bsd_init.c b/hw/xfree86/os-support/bsd/bsd_init.c
index eebd585790..f0c5de8707 100644
--- a/hw/xfree86/os-support/bsd/bsd_init.c
+++ b/hw/xfree86/os-support/bsd/bsd_init.c
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 
 #include "compiler.h"
 #include "xf86.h"
+#include "xf86_console_priv.h"
 #include "xf86Priv.h"
 #include "xf86_os_support.h"
 #include "xf86_OSlib.h"
@@ -46,7 +47,6 @@
 static Bool KeepTty = FALSE;
 
 #if defined (SYSCONS_SUPPORT) || defined (PCVT_SUPPORT)
-static int VTnum = -1;
 static int initialVT = -1;
 #endif
 
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ xf86OpenSyscons(void)
                 syscons_version = 0;
             }
 
-            xf86Info.vtno = VTnum;
+            xf86Info.vtno = xf86_console_requested_vt;
             from = X_CMDLINE;
 
 #ifdef VT_GETACTIVE
@@ -424,7 +424,7 @@ xf86OpenPcvt(void)
                            " not supported.", CHECK_DRIVER_MSG);
             }
 
-            xf86Info.vtno = VTnum;
+            xf86Info.vtno = xf86_console_requested_vt;
 
             if (ioctl(fd, VT_GETACTIVE, &initialVT) < 0)
                 initialVT = -1;
@@ -577,11 +577,12 @@ xf86ProcessArgument(int argc, char *argv[], int i)
     }
 #if defined (SYSCONS_SUPPORT) || defined (PCVT_SUPPORT)
     if ((argv[i][0] == 'v') && (argv[i][1] == 't')) {
+        int VTnum = -1;
         if (sscanf(argv[i], "vt%2d", &VTnum) == 0 || VTnum < 1 || VTnum > 12) {
             UseMsg();
-            VTnum = -1;
             return 0;
         }
+        xf86_console_requested_vt = VTnum;
         return 1;
     }
 #endif                          /* SYSCONS_SUPPORT || PCVT_SUPPORT */
diff --git a/hw/xfree86/os-support/solaris/sun_init.c b/hw/xfree86/os-support/solaris/sun_init.c
index 9732b83520..779bd4f895 100644
--- a/hw/xfree86/os-support/solaris/sun_init.c
+++ b/hw/xfree86/os-support/solaris/sun_init.c
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 #include "../../../../os/cmdline.h"
 
 #include "xf86_priv.h"
+#include "xf86_console_priv.h"
 #include "xf86Priv.h"
 #include "xf86_os_support.h"
 #include "xf86_OSlib.h"
@@ -59,7 +60,6 @@ static Bool KeepTty = FALSE;
 static Bool UseConsole = FALSE;
 
 #ifdef HAS_USL_VTS
-static int VTnum = -1;
 static int xf86StartVT = -1;
 static int vtEnabled = 0;
 #endif
@@ -169,8 +169,8 @@ xf86OpenConsole(void)
 
         xf86StartVT = vtinfo.v_active;
 
-        if (VTnum != -1) {
-            xf86Info.vtno = VTnum;
+        if (xf86_console_requested_vt != -1) {
+            xf86Info.vtno = xf86_console_requested_vt;
             from = X_CMDLINE;
         }
         else if (xf86Info.ShareVTs) {
@@ -377,12 +377,12 @@ xf86ProcessArgument(int argc, char **argv, int i)
 #ifdef HAS_USL_VTS
 
     if ((argv[i][0] == 'v') && (argv[i][1] == 't')) {
+        int VTnum;
         if (sscanf(argv[i], "vt%d", &VTnum) == 0) {
             UseMsg();
-            VTnum = -1;
             return 0;
         }
-
+        xf86_console_requested_vt = VTnum;
         return 1;
     }