diff --git a/common/console.c b/common/console.c
index d933c33519..3ef60fd7ac 100644
--- a/common/console.c
+++ b/common/console.c
@@ -488,8 +488,10 @@ int console_init_r (void)
 	int i, items = ListNumItems (devlist);
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_SPLASH_SCREEN
-	/* suppress all output if splash screen is enabled */
-	outputdev = search_device (DEV_FLAGS_OUTPUT, "nulldev");
+	/* suppress all output if splash screen is enabled and we have
+           a bmp to display                                            */
+	if (getenv("splashimage") != NULL)
+		outputdev = search_device (DEV_FLAGS_OUTPUT, "nulldev");
 #endif
 
 	/* Scan devices looking for input and output devices */