diff --git a/drivers/video/fbdev/sm712fb.c b/drivers/video/fbdev/sm712fb.c
index efcc620521df..5f34ef9cb074 100644
--- a/drivers/video/fbdev/sm712fb.c
+++ b/drivers/video/fbdev/sm712fb.c
@@ -1492,7 +1492,11 @@ static int smtcfb_pci_probe(struct pci_dev *pdev,
 	if (err)
 		goto failed;
 
-	smtcfb_setmode(sfb);
+	/*
+	 * The screen would be temporarily garbled when sm712fb takes over
+	 * vesafb or VGA text mode. Zero the framebuffer.
+	 */
+	memset_io(sfb->lfb, 0, sfb->fb->fix.smem_len);
 
 	err = register_framebuffer(info);
 	if (err < 0)