diff --git a/payloads/libpayload/Config.in b/payloads/libpayload/Config.in
index 90a22ff523..65be223068 100644
--- a/payloads/libpayload/Config.in
+++ b/payloads/libpayload/Config.in
@@ -147,6 +147,14 @@ endmenu
 
 menu "Console Options"
 
+config SKIP_CONSOLE_INIT
+	bool "Skip initializing the consoles at startup"
+	default n
+	help
+	  Normally, libpayload will initialize console input/output on startup
+	  before the payload itself gets control. This option disables that
+	  behavior and leaves console initialization up to the payload.
+
 config CBMEM_CONSOLE
 	bool "Send output to the in memory CBMEM console"
 	default y
diff --git a/payloads/libpayload/arch/i386/main.c b/payloads/libpayload/arch/i386/main.c
index 36cfb69bff..19ac6628eb 100644
--- a/payloads/libpayload/arch/i386/main.c
+++ b/payloads/libpayload/arch/i386/main.c
@@ -49,8 +49,9 @@ void start_main(void)
 	/* Gather system information. */
 	lib_get_sysinfo();
 
-	/* Set up the consoles. */
-	console_init();
+	/* Optionally set up the consoles. */
+	if (!CONFIG_SKIP_CONSOLE_INIT)
+		console_init();
 
 	/*
 	 * Any other system init that has to happen before the
diff --git a/payloads/libpayload/arch/powerpc/main.c b/payloads/libpayload/arch/powerpc/main.c
index 378c6f387f..431cac460b 100644
--- a/payloads/libpayload/arch/powerpc/main.c
+++ b/payloads/libpayload/arch/powerpc/main.c
@@ -46,8 +46,9 @@ void start_main(void)
 {
 	extern int main(int argc, char **argv);
 
-	/* Set up the consoles. */
-	console_init();
+	/* Optionally set up the consoles. */
+	if (!CONFIG_SKIP_CONSOLE_INIT)
+		console_init();
 
 	/* Gather system information. */
 	lib_get_sysinfo();