diff --git a/drivers/video/fbdev/tdfxfb.c b/drivers/video/fbdev/tdfxfb.c
index 8e5d2f3ef666..2819875022f6 100644
--- a/drivers/video/fbdev/tdfxfb.c
+++ b/drivers/video/fbdev/tdfxfb.c
@@ -1686,6 +1686,14 @@ static int tdfxfb_probe(struct pci_dev *pdev, const struct pci_device_id *id)
 		goto out_err_iobase;
 	}
 
+	/*
+	 * Program a video mode and clear the framebuffer now, this
+	 * ensures the display comes up even if fbcon doesn't bind
+	 * when the framebuffer is registered.
+	 */
+	tdfxfb_set_par(info);
+	memset_io(info->screen_base, 0, info->fix.smem_len);
+
 	if (register_framebuffer(info) < 0) {
 		printk(KERN_ERR "tdfxfb: can't register framebuffer\n");
 		fb_dealloc_cmap(&info->cmap);