diff --git a/cmd/incus/action.go b/cmd/incus/action.go
index ddb2f502200..1c9a53d810d 100644
--- a/cmd/incus/action.go
+++ b/cmd/incus/action.go
@@ -430,6 +430,18 @@ func (c *cmdAction) Run(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return fmt.Errorf(i18n.G("--console can't be used with --all"))
 		}
 
+		if len(names) > 1 && c.flagConsole != "vga" {
+			idx := slices.Index(names, "vga")
+			if idx == -1 {
+				idx = slices.Index(names, "console")
+			}
+
+			if idx != -1 {
+				c.flagConsole = names[idx]
+				names = append(names[0:idx], names[idx+1:]...)
+			}
+		}
+
 		if len(names) != 1 {
 			return fmt.Errorf(i18n.G("--console only works with a single instance"))
 		}