diff --git a/vm_conf_files/appvm-template.conf b/vm_conf_files/appvm-template.conf
index 4cb996b..3752ef4 100644
--- a/vm_conf_files/appvm-template.conf
+++ b/vm_conf_files/appvm-template.conf
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 kernel="%TEMPLATEDIR%/kernels/vmlinuz"
 ramdisk="%TEMPLATEDIR%/kernels/initramfs"
-extra="ro nomodeset rd_NO_PLYMOUTH 3"
+extra="ro nomodeset xencons=hvc rd_NO_PLYMOUTH 3"
 root="/dev/mapper/dmroot"
 
 memory = 400
diff --git a/vm_conf_files/netvm.conf b/vm_conf_files/netvm.conf
index 5022c3a..cac110d 100644
--- a/vm_conf_files/netvm.conf
+++ b/vm_conf_files/netvm.conf
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 kernel="/var/lib/qubes/servicevms/%NETVMNAME%/kernels/vmlinuz"
 ramdisk="/var/lib/qubes/servicevms/%NETVMNAME%/kernels/initramfs"
-extra="ro nomodeset rd_NO_PLYMOUTH 3 pci=nomsi"
+extra="ro nomodeset xencons=hvc rd_NO_PLYMOUTH 3 pci=nomsi"
 root="/dev/mapper/dmroot"
 
 memory = 200
diff --git a/vm_conf_files/templatevm.conf b/vm_conf_files/templatevm.conf
index 00b9b65..05ec30d 100644
--- a/vm_conf_files/templatevm.conf
+++ b/vm_conf_files/templatevm.conf
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 kernel="/var/lib/qubes/vm-templates/%TEMPLATENAME%/kernels/vmlinuz"
 ramdisk="/var/lib/qubes/vm-templates/%TEMPLATENAME%/kernels/initramfs"
-extra="ro nomodeset rd_NO_PLYMOUTH 3"
+extra="ro nomodeset xencons=hvc rd_NO_PLYMOUTH 3"
 root="/dev/mapper/dmroot"
 
 memory = 400
diff --git a/vm_initramfs_patches/qubes_cow_setup.sh b/vm_initramfs_patches/qubes_cow_setup.sh
index eae1d86..0944da9 100755
--- a/vm_initramfs_patches/qubes_cow_setup.sh
+++ b/vm_initramfs_patches/qubes_cow_setup.sh
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ if [ -e /dev/mapper/dmroot ] ; then
     die "Qubes: FATAL error: /dev/mapper/dmroot already exists?!"
 fi
 
-modprobe xen-blkfront || echo "Qubes: Cannot load Xen Block Frontend..."
+modprobe xenblk || modprobe xen-blkfront || echo "Qubes: Cannot load Xen Block Frontend..."
 
 echo "Waiting for /dev/xvda* devices..."
 while ! [ -e /dev/xvda ]; do sleep 0.1; done