diff --git a/opt/backup-fs b/opt/backup-fs
index 9db16b2..1632239 100644
--- a/opt/backup-fs
+++ b/opt/backup-fs
@@ -1,10 +1,17 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 
+# used to work around cases where stdin is unavailable or not a terminal
+if bash -c ': > /dev/tty' > /dev/null 2>&1; then
+  TTY_OR_CONSOLE="/dev/tty"
+else
+  TTY_OR_CONSOLE="/dev/console"
+fi
+
+
 function yesno {
   unset DISCARD_ME
   while [ -z "$DISCARD_ME" ]; do
-    # get input from /dev/tty to work around missing stdin
-    read -p "[y/n] " -n1 DISCARD_ME < /dev/tty
+    read -p "[y/n] " -n1 DISCARD_ME < $TTY_OR_CONSOLE
     case "$DISCARD_ME" in
       y)
         return 0
@@ -25,14 +32,14 @@ function yesno {
 cat /proc/mounts
 
 read -p "
-press any key" -n1 DISCARD_ME < /dev/tty
+press any key" -n1 DISCARD_ME < $TTY_OR_CONSOLE
 
 # And no services running?
 
 ps aux | grep -vF "[kworker"
 
 read -p "
-press any key" -n1 DISCARD_ME < /dev/tty
+press any key" -n1 DISCARD_ME < $TTY_OR_CONSOLE
 
 #TODO: remove above debugging sanity checks