diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index dab6814..4ebf68e 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ LDFLAGS := -ludev -lyaml
 CLIENT_SRCS := cdba.c circ_buf.c
 CLIENT_OBJS := $(CLIENT_SRCS:.c=.o)
 
-SERVER_SRCS := cdba-server.c cdb_assist.c circ_buf.c conmux.c device.c device_parser.c fastboot.c alpaca.c
+SERVER_SRCS := cdba-server.c cdb_assist.c circ_buf.c conmux.c device.c device_parser.c fastboot.c alpaca.c console.c
 SERVER_OBJS := $(SERVER_SRCS:.c=.o)
 
 $(CLIENT): $(CLIENT_OBJS)
diff --git a/console.c b/console.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0ee2cee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/console.c
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2020, Linaro Ltd.
+ * All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+ *
+ * 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice,
+ * this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ *
+ * 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice,
+ * this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation
+ * and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+ *
+ * 3. Neither the name of the copyright holder nor the names of its contributors
+ * may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software without
+ * specific prior written permission.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
+ * AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
+ * IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
+ * ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE
+ * LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR
+ * CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF
+ * SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS
+ * INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN
+ * CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE)
+ * ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
+ * POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+#include <sys/file.h>
+#include <sys/stat.h>
+
+#include <err.h>
+#include <unistd.h>
+
+#include "cdba-server.h"
+#include "device.h"
+
+static int console_data(int fd, void *data)
+{
+	struct msg hdr;
+	char buf[128];
+	ssize_t n;
+
+	n = read(fd, buf, sizeof(buf));
+	if (n < 0)
+		return n;
+
+	hdr.type = MSG_CONSOLE;
+	hdr.len = n;
+	write(STDOUT_FILENO, &hdr, sizeof(hdr));
+	write(STDOUT_FILENO, buf, n);
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+void console_open(struct device *device)
+{
+	device->console_fd = tty_open(device->console_dev, &device->console_tios);
+	if (device->console_fd < 0)
+		err(1, "failed to open %s", device->console_dev);
+
+	watch_add_readfd(device->console_fd, console_data, device);
+}
+
+int console_write(struct device *device, const void *buf, size_t len)
+{
+	return write(device->console_fd, buf, len);;
+}
diff --git a/console.h b/console.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e403645
--- /dev/null
+++ b/console.h
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+#ifndef __CONSOLE_H__
+#define __CONSOLE_H__
+
+#include "device.h"
+
+void console_open(struct device *device);
+int console_write(struct device *device, const void *buf, size_t len);
+
+#endif
diff --git a/device.c b/device.c
index eb052eb..8c15caf 100644
--- a/device.c
+++ b/device.c
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
 #include "cdba-server.h"
 #include "device.h"
 #include "fastboot.h"
+#include "console.h"
 #include "list.h"
 
 #define ARRAY_SIZE(x) ((sizeof(x)/sizeof((x)[0])))
@@ -78,33 +79,6 @@ static void device_lock(struct device *device)
 		err(1, "failed to lock lockfile %s", lock);
 }
 
-static int device_console_data(int fd, void *data)
-{
-	struct msg hdr;
-	char buf[128];
-	ssize_t n;
-
-	n = read(fd, buf, sizeof(buf));
-	if (n < 0)
-		return n;
-
-	hdr.type = MSG_CONSOLE;
-	hdr.len = n;
-	write(STDOUT_FILENO, &hdr, sizeof(hdr));
-	write(STDOUT_FILENO, buf, n);
-
-	return 0;
-}
-
-static void console_open(struct device *device)
-{
-	device->console_fd = tty_open(device->console_dev, &device->console_tios);
-	if (device->console_fd < 0)
-		err(1, "failed to open %s", device->console_dev);
-
-	watch_add_readfd(device->console_fd, device_console_data, device);
-}
-
 struct device *device_open(const char *board,
 			   struct fastboot_ops *fastboot_ops)
 {
@@ -175,13 +149,9 @@ int device_write(struct device *device, const void *buf, size_t len)
 	if (!device)
 		return 0;
 
-	if (device->console_fd) {
-		return write(device->console_fd, buf, len);;
-	} else {
-		assert(device->write);
+	assert(device->write);
 
-		return device->write(device, buf, len);
-	}
+	return device->write(device, buf, len);
 }
 
 void device_fastboot_boot(struct device *device)
diff --git a/device_parser.c b/device_parser.c
index dbf4aa5..aae7674 100644
--- a/device_parser.c
+++ b/device_parser.c
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 #include "alpaca.h"
 #include "cdb_assist.h"
 #include "conmux.h"
+#include "console.h"
 
 #define TOKEN_LENGTH	16384
 
@@ -119,6 +120,7 @@ static void parse_board(struct device_parser *dp)
 			dev->power_off = alpaca_power_off;
 		} else if (!strcmp(key, "console")) {
 			dev->console_dev = strdup(value);
+			dev->write = console_write;
 		} else if (!strcmp(key, "voltage")) {
 			dev->voltage = strtoul(value, NULL, 10);
 		} else if (!strcmp(key, "fastboot")) {