diff --git a/src/terminal.c b/src/terminal.c
index c596a58..68d196f 100644
--- a/src/terminal.c
+++ b/src/terminal.c
@@ -284,10 +284,9 @@ int kmscon_terminal_new(struct kmscon_terminal **out,
 	if (ret)
 		goto err_free;
 
-	ret = kmscon_vte_new(&term->vte);
+	ret = kmscon_vte_new(&term->vte, term->console);
 	if (ret)
 		goto err_con;
-	kmscon_vte_bind(term->vte, term->console);
 
 	ret = kmscon_pty_new(&term->pty, term->eloop, pty_input, term);
 	if (ret)
diff --git a/src/vte.c b/src/vte.c
index a2f38b8..1b86da0 100644
--- a/src/vte.c
+++ b/src/vte.c
@@ -115,12 +115,12 @@ struct kmscon_vte {
 	int csi_argv[CSI_ARG_MAX];
 };
 
-int kmscon_vte_new(struct kmscon_vte **out)
+int kmscon_vte_new(struct kmscon_vte **out, struct kmscon_console *con)
 {
 	struct kmscon_vte *vte;
 	int ret;
 
-	if (!out)
+	if (!out || !con)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
 	vte = malloc(sizeof(*vte));
@@ -130,12 +130,14 @@ int kmscon_vte_new(struct kmscon_vte **out)
 	memset(vte, 0, sizeof(*vte));
 	vte->ref = 1;
 	vte->state = STATE_GROUND;
+	vte->con = con;
 
 	ret = kmscon_utf8_mach_new(&vte->mach);
 	if (ret)
 		goto err_free;
 
 	log_debug("new vte object");
+	kmscon_console_ref(vte->con);
 	*out = vte;
 	return 0;
 
@@ -167,16 +169,6 @@ void kmscon_vte_unref(struct kmscon_vte *vte)
 	free(vte);
 }
 
-void kmscon_vte_bind(struct kmscon_vte *vte, struct kmscon_console *con)
-{
-	if (!vte)
-		return;
-
-	kmscon_console_unref(vte->con);
-	vte->con = con;
-	kmscon_console_ref(vte->con);
-}
-
 /* execute control character (C0 or C1) */
 static void do_execute(struct kmscon_vte *vte, uint32_t ctrl)
 {
diff --git a/src/vte.h b/src/vte.h
index a781dfe..6d3425d 100644
--- a/src/vte.h
+++ b/src/vte.h
@@ -44,11 +44,10 @@ enum kmscon_vte_keyboard_action {
 	KMSCON_VTE_SEND,
 };
 
-int kmscon_vte_new(struct kmscon_vte **out);
+int kmscon_vte_new(struct kmscon_vte **out, struct kmscon_console *con);
 void kmscon_vte_ref(struct kmscon_vte *vte);
 void kmscon_vte_unref(struct kmscon_vte *vte);
 
-void kmscon_vte_bind(struct kmscon_vte *vte, struct kmscon_console *con);
 void kmscon_vte_input(struct kmscon_vte *vte, const char *u8, size_t len);
 int kmscon_vte_handle_keyboard(struct kmscon_vte *vte,
 	const struct uterm_input_event *ev, const char **u8, size_t *len);