diff --git a/target/linux/x86/base-files/lib/preinit/45_failsafe_x86 b/target/linux/x86/base-files/lib/preinit/45_failsafe_x86
index 97392774da..dd7330d5d7 100644
--- a/target/linux/x86/base-files/lib/preinit/45_failsafe_x86
+++ b/target/linux/x86/base-files/lib/preinit/45_failsafe_x86
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 failsafe_wait() {
     FAILSAFE=
-    grep 'failsafe=' /proc/cmdline > /dev/null && FAILSAFE=true && export FAILSAFE
+    grep -q 'failsafe=' /proc/cmdline && FAILSAFE=true && export FAILSAFE
     if [ "$FAILSAFE" != "true" ]; then
         preinit_net_echo "Please press button now to enter failsafe"
         echo -n "Press "
diff --git a/target/linux/x86/olpc/base-files/lib/preinit/45_failsafe_x86 b/target/linux/x86/olpc/base-files/lib/preinit/45_failsafe_x86
index 97392774da..dd7330d5d7 100644
--- a/target/linux/x86/olpc/base-files/lib/preinit/45_failsafe_x86
+++ b/target/linux/x86/olpc/base-files/lib/preinit/45_failsafe_x86
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 failsafe_wait() {
     FAILSAFE=
-    grep 'failsafe=' /proc/cmdline > /dev/null && FAILSAFE=true && export FAILSAFE
+    grep -q 'failsafe=' /proc/cmdline && FAILSAFE=true && export FAILSAFE
     if [ "$FAILSAFE" != "true" ]; then
         preinit_net_echo "Please press button now to enter failsafe"
         echo -n "Press "