diff --git a/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/keymap b/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/keymap
index 63f1f245509..6f4060c0772 100755
--- a/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/keymap
+++ b/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/keymap
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ while :; do
 		--default-item \"\$defaultitem\"   \
 		--menu \"\$prompt\"                \
 		$height $width $rows               \
-		$menu_list                         \
+		${USE_DIALOG:+--} $menu_list       \
 		2>&1 >&$DIALOG_TERMINAL_PASSTHRU_FD
 	) || {
 		f_quietly rm -f "$KEYMAPFILE"
diff --git a/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/zfsboot b/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/zfsboot
index a671841b15e..619d11c5600 100755
--- a/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/zfsboot
+++ b/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/zfsboot
@@ -396,7 +396,7 @@ dialog_menu_main()
 		--default-item \"\$defaultitem\" \
 		--menu \"\$prompt\"              \
 		$height $width $rows             \
-		$menu_list                       \
+		${USE_DIALOG:+--} $menu_list     \
 		2>&1 >&$DIALOG_TERMINAL_PASSTHRU_FD
 	)
 	local retval=$?