--- gpm-1.19.3/gpm.c.serialconsole	Fri Jan  5 14:10:46 2001
+++ gpm-1.19.3/gpm.c	Fri Jan  5 14:39:28 2001
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 #include <sys/un.h>        /* struct sockaddr_un */
 
 #include <linux/vt.h>      /* VT_GETSTATE */
+#include <linux/serial.h>  /* for serial console check */
 #include <sys/kd.h>        /* KDGETMODE */
 #include <termios.h>       /* winsize */
 
@@ -142,10 +143,25 @@
 static inline int open_console(const int mode)
 {
   int fd;
-
-  if ((fd=open(consolename, mode)) < 0)
-    oops(consolename);
-  return fd;
+  struct stat sb;
+  int maj, twelve=12;
+  struct serial_struct si;
+
+  fd = open(consolename, mode);
+  if (fd != -1) {
+      fstat(fd, &sb);
+      maj = major(sb.st_rdev);
+      if (maj != 4 && (maj < 136 || maj > 143)) {
+	  if (ioctl (fd, TIOCLINUX, &twelve) < 0) {
+	      if (ioctl (fd, TIOCGSERIAL, &si) >= 0) {
+		  if (si.line > 0)
+		      oops("we seem to be on a serial console");
+	      }
+	  }
+      }
+      return fd;
+  } else
+      oops(consolename);
 }
 
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------*/