diff --git a/usr.sbin/kbdmap/kbdmap.c b/usr.sbin/kbdmap/kbdmap.c
index 7d5a0d12628..bf2aa81d513 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/kbdmap/kbdmap.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/kbdmap/kbdmap.c
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ __FBSDID("$FreeBSD$");
 
 #include <sys/types.h>
 #include <sys/queue.h>
+#include <sys/sysctl.h>
 
 #include <assert.h>
 #include <ctype.h>
@@ -47,10 +48,10 @@ static const char *lang_default = DEFAULT_LANG;
 static const char *font;
 static const char *lang;
 static const char *program;
-static const char *keymapdir = DEFAULT_KEYMAP_DIR;
-static const char *fontdir = DEFAULT_FONT_DIR;
+static const char *keymapdir = DEFAULT_VT_KEYMAP_DIR;
+static const char *fontdir = DEFAULT_VT_FONT_DIR;
+static const char *font_default = DEFAULT_VT_FONT;
 static const char *sysconfig = DEFAULT_SYSCONFIG;
-static const char *font_default = DEFAULT_FONT;
 static const char *font_current;
 static const char *dir;
 static const char *menu = "";
@@ -145,6 +146,22 @@ add_keymap(const char *desc, int mark, const char *keym)
 	SLIST_INSERT_HEAD(&head, km_new, entries);
 }
 
+/*
+ * Return 0 if syscons is in use (to select legacy defaults).
+ */
+static int
+check_newcons(void)
+{
+	size_t len;
+	char term[3];
+
+	len = 3;
+	if (sysctlbyname("kern.vty", &term, &len, NULL, 0) != 0 ||
+	    strcmp(term, "vt") != 0)
+		return 0;
+	return -1;
+}
+
 /*
  * Figure out the default language to use.
  */
@@ -815,6 +832,12 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 		sleep(2);
 	}
 
+	if (check_newcons() == 0) {
+		keymapdir = DEFAULT_SC_KEYMAP_DIR;
+		fontdir = DEFAULT_SC_FONT_DIR;
+		font_default = DEFAULT_SC_FONT;
+	}
+
 	SLIST_INIT(&head);
 
 	lang = get_locale();
diff --git a/usr.sbin/kbdmap/kbdmap.h b/usr.sbin/kbdmap/kbdmap.h
index e57fa8c3c9a..89d27b1e9c0 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/kbdmap/kbdmap.h
+++ b/usr.sbin/kbdmap/kbdmap.h
@@ -28,7 +28,12 @@
 
 
 #define DEFAULT_LANG		"en"
-#define DEFAULT_KEYMAP_DIR	"/usr/share/syscons/keymaps"
-#define DEFAULT_FONT_DIR	"/usr/share/syscons/fonts"
 #define DEFAULT_SYSCONFIG	"/etc/rc.conf"
-#define DEFAULT_FONT		"cp437-8x16.fnt"
+
+#define DEFAULT_SC_KEYMAP_DIR	"/usr/share/syscons/keymaps"
+#define DEFAULT_SC_FONT_DIR	"/usr/share/syscons/fonts"
+#define DEFAULT_SC_FONT		"cp437-8x16.fnt"
+
+#define DEFAULT_VT_KEYMAP_DIR	"/usr/share/vt/keymaps"
+#define DEFAULT_VT_FONT_DIR	"/usr/share/vt/fonts"
+#define DEFAULT_VT_FONT		"vgarom-thin-8x16.fnt"