diff --git a/init/host_init_stubs.cpp b/init/host_init_stubs.cpp
index b85e54a69..47d263370 100644
--- a/init/host_init_stubs.cpp
+++ b/init/host_init_stubs.cpp
@@ -26,9 +26,6 @@ int setgroups(size_t __size, const gid_t* __list) {
 namespace android {
 namespace init {
 
-// init.h
-std::string default_console = "/dev/console";
-
 // property_service.h
 bool CanReadProperty(const std::string& source_context, const std::string& name) {
     return true;
diff --git a/init/host_init_stubs.h b/init/host_init_stubs.h
index f6e967653..4fbd2e671 100644
--- a/init/host_init_stubs.h
+++ b/init/host_init_stubs.h
@@ -35,9 +35,6 @@ int setgroups(size_t __size, const gid_t* __list);
 namespace android {
 namespace init {
 
-// init.h
-extern std::string default_console;
-
 // property_service.h
 bool CanReadProperty(const std::string& source_context, const std::string& name);
 extern uint32_t (*property_set)(const std::string& name, const std::string& value);
diff --git a/init/init.cpp b/init/init.cpp
index bb12a6e25..2b94825e1 100644
--- a/init/init.cpp
+++ b/init/init.cpp
@@ -90,8 +90,6 @@ static int property_triggers_enabled = 0;
 
 static char qemu[32];
 
-std::string default_console = "/dev/console";
-
 static int signal_fd = -1;
 
 static std::unique_ptr<Timer> waiting_for_prop(nullptr);
@@ -348,14 +346,6 @@ static Result<void> wait_for_coldboot_done_action(const BuiltinArguments& args)
     return {};
 }
 
-static Result<void> console_init_action(const BuiltinArguments& args) {
-    std::string console = GetProperty("ro.boot.console", "");
-    if (!console.empty()) {
-        default_console = "/dev/" + console;
-    }
-    return {};
-}
-
 static Result<void> SetupCgroupsAction(const BuiltinArguments&) {
     // Have to create <CGROUPS_RC_DIR> using make_dir function
     // for appropriate sepolicy to be set for it
@@ -762,7 +752,6 @@ int SecondStageMain(int argc, char** argv) {
                 return {};
             },
             "KeychordInit");
-    am.QueueBuiltinAction(console_init_action, "console_init");
 
     // Trigger all the boot actions to get us started.
     am.QueueEventTrigger("init");
diff --git a/init/init.h b/init/init.h
index 198ec2a54..6ada6ab1a 100644
--- a/init/init.h
+++ b/init/init.h
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ namespace init {
 // Note: These globals are *only* valid in init, so they should not be used in ueventd
 // or any files that may be included in ueventd, such as devices.cpp and util.cpp.
 // TODO: Have an Init class and remove all globals.
-extern std::string default_console;
 extern std::vector<std::string> late_import_paths;
 
 Parser CreateParser(ActionManager& action_manager, ServiceList& service_list);
diff --git a/init/service.cpp b/init/service.cpp
index 4cd18891d..cd08f3d1d 100644
--- a/init/service.cpp
+++ b/init/service.cpp
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@
 #if defined(__ANDROID__)
 #include <ApexProperties.sysprop.h>
 
-#include "init.h"
 #include "mount_namespace.h"
 #include "property_service.h"
 #else
@@ -359,7 +358,7 @@ Result<void> Service::Start() {
     bool needs_console = (flags_ & SVC_CONSOLE);
     if (needs_console) {
         if (proc_attr_.console.empty()) {
-            proc_attr_.console = default_console;
+            proc_attr_.console = "/dev/" + GetProperty("ro.boot.console", "console");
         }
 
         // Make sure that open call succeeds to ensure a console driver is