diff --git a/build_image b/build_image
index 82fe776726..306c753135 100755
--- a/build_image
+++ b/build_image
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ if [ ${FLAGS_factory_install} -eq ${FLAGS_TRUE} ] ; then
   # Factory install needs to have the kernel initrmafs enabled,
   # and the factory installer added.
   EXTRA_PACKAGES="${EXTRA_PACKAGES} chromeos-base/chromeos-factoryinstall"
-  export USE="${USE} initramfs"
+  export USE="${USE} fbconsole initramfs"
 fi
 
 emerge_to_image() {
diff --git a/mod_image_for_recovery.sh b/mod_image_for_recovery.sh
index 137b46c13b..0fe78c4ea4 100755
--- a/mod_image_for_recovery.sh
+++ b/mod_image_for_recovery.sh
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ emerge_recovery_kernel() {
   $EMERGE_BOARD_CMD \
     $emerge_flags --binpkg-respect-use=y \
     chromeos-initramfs || die "no initramfs"
-  USE="initramfs" $EMERGE_BOARD_CMD \
+  USE="fbconsole initramfs" $EMERGE_BOARD_CMD \
                     $emerge_flags --binpkg-respect-use=y \
                     virtual/kernel
 }