diff --git a/init/src/main.rs b/init/src/main.rs
index 98e778bceb..08b8662d64 100644
--- a/init/src/main.rs
+++ b/init/src/main.rs
@@ -119,8 +119,13 @@ fn main() {
     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));
+    // DIAGNOSTIC (temporary): keep init/daemon stdio on the kernel console
+    // so the full boot is visible on serial for headless debugging, instead
+    // of being redirected into /scheme/log (only mirrored racily to serial).
+    if false {
+        if let Err(err) = switch_stdio("/scheme/log") {
+            init_error(&format!("failed to switch stdio to '/scheme/log': {}", err));
+        }
     }
 
     let runtime_target = UnitId("00_runtime.target".to_owned());