diff --git a/nixos/modules/testing/test-instrumentation.nix b/nixos/modules/testing/test-instrumentation.nix
index 9100a433cd63..9e3bc780f5b4 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/testing/test-instrumentation.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/testing/test-instrumentation.nix
@@ -66,13 +66,22 @@ let kernel = config.boot.kernelPackages.kernel; in
     # Panic if an error occurs in stage 1 (rather than waiting for
     # user intervention).
     boot.kernelParams =
-      [ "console=tty1" "console=ttyS0" "panic=1" "boot.panic_on_fail" ];
+      [ "console=ttyS0" "panic=1" "boot.panic_on_fail" ];
 
     # `xwininfo' is used by the test driver to query open windows.
     environment.systemPackages = [ pkgs.xorg.xwininfo ];
 
     # Log everything to the serial console.
-    services.journald.console = "/dev/console";
+    services.journald.extraConfig =
+      ''
+        ForwardToConsole=yes
+        MaxLevelConsole=debug
+      '';
+
+    # Don't clobber the console with duplicate systemd messages.
+    systemd.extraConfig = "ShowStatus=no";
+
+    boot.consoleLogLevel = 7;
 
     # Prevent tests from accessing the Internet.
     networking.defaultGateway = mkOverride 150 "";