Index: kbd/src/unicode_stop
===================================================================
--- kbd.orig/src/unicode_stop
+++ kbd/src/unicode_stop
@@ -1,4 +1,18 @@
 #!/bin/sh
+
+if [ ! -e /proc/self/fd/0 ] ; then
+   echo "Won't set ascii mode: Can't determine console type;" >&2
+   echo " Please ensure that /proc is mounted." >&2
+   exit 1
+fi
+
+readlink /proc/self/fd/0 | grep -q -e /dev/vc -e '/dev/tty[^p]' -e /dev/console
+if [ $? -eq 1 ]; then
+    echo  "Won't set ascii mode: not a VT." >&2
+    exit 1
+fi
+
 # stop unicode
 kbd_mode -a
+
 echo -n -e '\033%@'
Index: kbd/src/unicode_start
===================================================================
--- kbd.orig/src/unicode_start
+++ kbd/src/unicode_start
@@ -1,6 +1,19 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 # Enables Unicode processing in the current console.
 #
+
+if [ ! -e /proc/self/fd/0 ] ; then
+   echo "Won't set unicode mode: Can't determine console type;" >&2
+   echo " Please ensure that /proc is mounted." >&2
+   exit 1
+fi
+
+readlink /proc/self/fd/0 | grep -q -e /dev/vc -e '/dev/tty[^p]' -e /dev/console
+if [ $? -eq 1 ]; then
+    echo  "Won't set unicode mode: not a VT." >&2
+    exit 1
+fi
+
 # 1. The input side: the keyboard driver.
 
 # Set the keyboard driver in Unicode mode. (Default is ASCII mode.)