diff --git a/src/home/homectl.c b/src/home/homectl.c
index 95c5e101ed..3d3cd6087d 100644
--- a/src/home/homectl.c
+++ b/src/home/homectl.c
@@ -2998,7 +2998,8 @@ static int create_interactively(void) {
         (void) plymouth_hide_splash();
 
         _cleanup_(sd_varlink_flush_close_unrefp) sd_varlink *mute_console_link = NULL;
-        (void) mute_console(&mute_console_link);
+        if (arg_mute_console)
+                (void) mute_console(&mute_console_link);
 
         (void) terminal_reset_defensive_locked(STDOUT_FILENO, /* flags= */ 0);