diff --git a/sys/src/9/port/devcons.c b/sys/src/9/port/devcons.c
index e1b7a57f1..828706f09 100644
--- a/sys/src/9/port/devcons.c
+++ b/sys/src/9/port/devcons.c
@@ -321,6 +321,7 @@ enum{
 	Qdir,
 	Qbintime,
 	Qcons,
+	Qconsctl,
 	Qcputime,
 	Qdrivers,
 	Qkmesg,
@@ -353,6 +354,7 @@ static Dirtab consdir[]={
 	".",	{Qdir, 0, QTDIR},	0,		DMDIR|0555,
 	"bintime",	{Qbintime},	24,		0664,
 	"cons",		{Qcons},	0,		0660,
+	"consctl",	{Qconsctl},	0,		0220,
 	"cputime",	{Qcputime},	6*NUMSIZE,	0444,
 	"drivers",	{Qdrivers},	0,		0444,
 	"hostdomain",	{Qhostdomain},	DOMLEN,		0664,
@@ -696,6 +698,9 @@ conswrite(Chan *c, void *va, long n, vlong off)
 		}
 		break;
 
+	case Qconsctl:
+		error(Egreg);
+
 	case Qtime:
 		if(!iseve())
 			error(Eperm);