diff --git a/src/basic/terminal-util.c b/src/basic/terminal-util.c
index aefa7cd4ef..7fce84bf82 100644
--- a/src/basic/terminal-util.c
+++ b/src/basic/terminal-util.c
@@ -1305,3 +1305,19 @@ int vt_restore(int fd) {
 
         return q;
 }
+
+int vt_release(int fd, bool restore) {
+        assert(fd >= 0);
+
+        /* This function releases the VT by acknowledging the VT-switch signal
+         * sent by the kernel and optionally reset the VT in text and auto
+         * VT-switching modes. */
+
+        if (ioctl(fd, VT_RELDISP, 1) < 0)
+                return -errno;
+
+        if (restore)
+                return vt_restore(fd);
+
+        return 0;
+}
diff --git a/src/basic/terminal-util.h b/src/basic/terminal-util.h
index 2d931114e4..86e730028e 100644
--- a/src/basic/terminal-util.h
+++ b/src/basic/terminal-util.h
@@ -155,3 +155,4 @@ int open_terminal_in_namespace(pid_t pid, const char *name, int mode);
 int vt_default_utf8(void);
 int vt_reset_keyboard(int fd);
 int vt_restore(int fd);
+int vt_release(int fd, bool restore_vt);
diff --git a/src/login/logind-session.c b/src/login/logind-session.c
index f35d7808c0..e8be1ffbed 100644
--- a/src/login/logind-session.c
+++ b/src/login/logind-session.c
@@ -1296,9 +1296,9 @@ void session_leave_vt(Session *s) {
                 return;
 
         session_device_pause_all(s);
-        r = ioctl(s->vtfd, VT_RELDISP, 1);
+        r = vt_release(s->vtfd, false);
         if (r < 0)
-                log_debug_errno(errno, "Cannot release VT of session %s: %m", s->id);
+                log_debug_errno(r, "Cannot release VT of session %s: %m", s->id);
 }
 
 bool session_is_controller(Session *s, const char *sender) {