diff --git a/meta/recipes-core/sysvinit/sysvinit-inittab_2.88dsf.bb b/meta/recipes-core/sysvinit/sysvinit-inittab_2.88dsf.bb
index bdc3416aa9..f136ad821b 100644
--- a/meta/recipes-core/sysvinit/sysvinit-inittab_2.88dsf.bb
+++ b/meta/recipes-core/sysvinit/sysvinit-inittab_2.88dsf.bb
@@ -58,9 +58,12 @@ if [ "x$D" = "x" ] && [ -e /proc/consoles ]; then
 	tmp="${SERIAL_CONSOLES_CHECK}"
 	for i in $tmp
 	do
-		j=`echo ${i} | sed s/^.*\;//g`
+		j=`echo ${i} | sed -e s/^.*\;//g -e s/\:.*//g`
+		k=`echo ${i} | sed s/^.*\://g`
 		if [ -z "`grep ${j} /proc/consoles`" ]; then
-			sed -i /^.*${j}$/d /etc/inittab
+			if [ -z "${k}" ] || [ -z "`grep ${k} /proc/consoles`" ] || [ ! -e /dev/${j} ]; then
+				sed -i /^.*${j}$/d /etc/inittab
+			fi
 		fi
 	done
 	kill -HUP 1