diff --git a/init/src/main.rs b/init/src/main.rs
index 98e778bceb..221b7979ea 100644
--- a/init/src/main.rs
+++ b/init/src/main.rs
@@ -115,13 +115,21 @@ fn main() {
         Path::new("/scheme/initfs/etc"),
     );
 
-    // Start logd first such that we can pass /scheme/log as stdio to all other services
+    // Start logd first. Its /scheme/log sink mirrors every line to the kernel
+    // debug console (serial + framebuffer), so daemons still get logged.
     scheduler
         .schedule_start_and_report_errors(&mut unit_store, UnitId("00_logd.service".to_owned()));
     scheduler.step(&mut unit_store, &mut init_config);
-    if let Err(err) = switch_stdio("/scheme/log") {
-        init_error(&format!("failed to switch stdio to '/scheme/log': {}", err));
-    }
+    // NOTE: init/daemon stdio is deliberately kept on the kernel console
+    // rather than being redirected into /scheme/log. Redirecting made the boot
+    // "go dark" after logd on text/recovery ISOs (bare/mini): the graphical
+    // bootlog (fbbootlogd, VT1) does not reliably surface /scheme/log to the
+    // framebuffer, and logd's console mirror is racy, so the console showed
+    // nothing between logd and the login VT — indistinguishable from a hang.
+    // Keeping stdio on the console makes the full boot observable on
+    // `-serial` and the framebuffer. (A quiet/splash mode for the graphical
+    // full ISO can re-enable the redirect once fbbootlogd rendering is fixed.)
+    let _ = switch_stdio;
 
     let runtime_target = UnitId("00_runtime.target".to_owned());
     scheduler.schedule_start_and_report_errors(&mut unit_store, runtime_target.clone());