diff --git a/hw/xfree86/common/xf86Configure.c b/hw/xfree86/common/xf86Configure.c
index c712df72c..975266943 100644
--- a/hw/xfree86/common/xf86Configure.c
+++ b/hw/xfree86/common/xf86Configure.c
@@ -63,6 +63,9 @@ static char *DFLT_MOUSE_PROTO = "auto";
 #elif defined(linux)
 static char DFLT_MOUSE_DEV[] = "/dev/input/mice";
 static char DFLT_MOUSE_PROTO[] = "auto";
+#elif defined(WSCONS_SUPPORT)
+static char *DFLT_MOUSE_DEV = "/dev/wsmouse";
+static char *DFLT_MOUSE_PROTO = "wsmouse";
 #else
 static char *DFLT_MOUSE_DEV = "/dev/mouse";
 static char *DFLT_MOUSE_PROTO = "auto";
@@ -154,16 +157,6 @@ configureInputSection (void)
     /* Crude mechanism to auto-detect mouse (os dependent) */
     { 
 	int fd;
-#ifdef WSCONS_SUPPORT
-	fd = open("/dev/wsmouse", 0);
-	if (fd >= 0) {
-	    DFLT_MOUSE_DEV = "/dev/wsmouse";
-	    DFLT_MOUSE_PROTO = "wsmouse";
-	    close(fd);
-	} else {
-	    ErrorF("cannot open /dev/wsmouse\n");
-	}
-#endif
 
 	fd = open(DFLT_MOUSE_DEV, 0);
 	if (fd != -1) {