diff --git a/src/libply-splash-core/ply-terminal.c b/src/libply-splash-core/ply-terminal.c
index 2e95dc8..e3d3a1a 100644
--- a/src/libply-splash-core/ply-terminal.c
+++ b/src/libply-splash-core/ply-terminal.c
@@ -946,6 +946,16 @@ ply_terminal_deactivate_vt (ply_terminal_t *terminal)
       return false;
     }
 
+  /* we must set the console mode back to KD_TEXT if we are the last user
+   * of it, otherwise VT switching will be stuck. See set_console in vt.c
+   * in the linux kernel.
+   */
+  if (ioctl (terminal->fd, KDSETMODE, KD_TEXT) < 0)
+    {
+      ply_trace ("failed to set terminal to KD_TEXT mode");
+      return;
+    }
+
   if (terminal->initial_vt_number < 0)
     {
       ply_trace ("Don't know where to jump to");