diff -urNX dontdiff linux-2.6.5/drivers/char/vt_ioctl.c linux/drivers/char/vt_ioctl.c
--- linux-2.6.5/drivers/char/vt_ioctl.c	2004-04-03 22:37:37.000000000 -0500
+++ linux/drivers/char/vt_ioctl.c	2004-05-02 20:45:16.000000000 -0400
@@ -357,6 +357,27 @@
 	return 0;
 }
 
+void vt_kdsetmode(unsigned int console, unsigned char mode)
+{
+	if (vt_cons[console]->vc_mode == (unsigned char) mode)
+		return;
+	vt_cons[console]->vc_mode = (unsigned char) mode;
+	if (console != fg_console)
+		return;
+	/*
+	 * explicitly blank/unblank the screen if switching modes
+	 */
+	if (mode == KD_TEXT)
+		do_unblank_screen(1);
+	else
+		do_blank_screen(1);
+}
+
+unsigned char vt_kdgetmode(unsigned int console)
+{
+    return vt_cons[console]->vc_mode;    
+}
+
 /*
  * We handle the console-specific ioctl's here.  We allow the
  * capability to modify any console, not just the fg_console. 
@@ -487,24 +508,13 @@
 		default:
 			return -EINVAL;
 		}
-		if (vt_cons[console]->vc_mode == (unsigned char) arg)
-			return 0;
-		vt_cons[console]->vc_mode = (unsigned char) arg;
-		if (console != fg_console)
-			return 0;
-		/*
-		 * explicitly blank/unblank the screen if switching modes
-		 */
 		acquire_console_sem();
-		if (arg == KD_TEXT)
-			do_unblank_screen(1);
-		else
-			do_blank_screen(1);
+		vt_kdsetmode(console, (unsigned char)arg);
 		release_console_sem();
 		return 0;
 
 	case KDGETMODE:
-		ucval = vt_cons[console]->vc_mode;
+		ucval = vt_kdgetmode(console);
 		goto setint;
 
 	case KDMAPDISP:
diff -urNX dontdiff linux-2.6.5/include/linux/vt_kern.h linux/include/linux/vt_kern.h
--- linux-2.6.5/include/linux/vt_kern.h	2004-04-03 22:38:12.000000000 -0500
+++ linux/include/linux/vt_kern.h	2004-05-02 20:42:42.000000000 -0400
@@ -83,5 +83,7 @@
 int vt_waitactive(int vt);
 void change_console(unsigned int);
 void reset_vc(unsigned int new_console);
+void vt_kdsetmode(unsigned int console, unsigned char mode);
+unsigned char vt_kdgetmode(unsigned int console);
 
 #endif /* _VT_KERN_H */