diff --git a/drivers/tty/hvc/hvc_console.c b/drivers/tty/hvc/hvc_console.c
index 50b46881b6ca..94f9e3a38412 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/hvc/hvc_console.c
+++ b/drivers/tty/hvc/hvc_console.c
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 #include <linux/list.h>
 #include <linux/module.h>
 #include <linux/major.h>
+#include <linux/atomic.h>
 #include <linux/sysrq.h>
 #include <linux/tty.h>
 #include <linux/tty_flip.h>
@@ -70,6 +71,9 @@ static struct task_struct *hvc_task;
 /* Picks up late kicks after list walk but before schedule() */
 static int hvc_kicked;
 
+/* hvc_init is triggered from hvc_alloc, i.e. only when actually used */
+static atomic_t hvc_needs_init __read_mostly = ATOMIC_INIT(-1);
+
 static int hvc_init(void);
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_MAGIC_SYSRQ
@@ -851,7 +855,7 @@ struct hvc_struct *hvc_alloc(uint32_t vtermno, int data,
 	int i;
 
 	/* We wait until a driver actually comes along */
-	if (!hvc_driver) {
+	if (atomic_inc_not_zero(&hvc_needs_init)) {
 		int err = hvc_init();
 		if (err)
 			return ERR_PTR(err);