diff --git a/sys/dev/syscons/syscons.h b/sys/dev/syscons/syscons.h
index 1a19b605c18..f17b294d51a 100644
--- a/sys/dev/syscons/syscons.h
+++ b/sys/dev/syscons/syscons.h
@@ -517,7 +517,8 @@ typedef struct {
 #define ISSIGVALID(sig)	((sig) > 0 && (sig) < NSIG)
 
 #define SC_VIDEO_LOCKINIT(sc)						\
-		mtx_init(&(sc)->video_mtx, "syscons video lock", NULL,MTX_SPIN);
+		mtx_init(&(sc)->video_mtx, "syscons video lock", NULL,	\
+		    MTX_SPIN | MTX_RECURSE);
 #define SC_VIDEO_LOCK(sc)						\
 		do {							\
 			if (!cold)					\