diff --git a/lib/io/console.c b/lib/io/console.c
index 07afc43bf..ec32e3f77 100644
--- a/lib/io/console.c
+++ b/lib/io/console.c
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@ static uint8_t console_cbuf_buf[CONSOLE_BUF_LEN];
 /* print lock must be held when invoking out, outs, outc */
 static void out_count(const char *str, size_t len) {
     print_callback_t *cb;
-    size_t i;
 
     /* print to any registered loggers */
     if (!list_is_empty(&print_callbacks)) {
@@ -60,6 +59,7 @@ static void out_count(const char *str, size_t len) {
     }
 
 #if CONSOLE_OUTPUT_TO_PLATFORM_PUTC
+    size_t i;
     /* write out the serial port */
     for (i = 0; i < len; i++) {
         platform_dputc(str[i]);
diff --git a/lib/io/rules.mk b/lib/io/rules.mk
index 30b4cc568..1e882f361 100644
--- a/lib/io/rules.mk
+++ b/lib/io/rules.mk
@@ -2,9 +2,14 @@ LOCAL_DIR := $(GET_LOCAL_DIR)
 
 MODULE := $(LOCAL_DIR)
 
+CONSOLE_OUTPUT_TO_PLATFORM_PUTC ?= 1
+
 MODULE_DEPS := \
 	lib/cbuf
 
+MODULE_DEFINES += \
+	CONSOLE_OUTPUT_TO_PLATFORM_PUTC=$(CONSOLE_OUTPUT_TO_PLATFORM_PUTC)
+
 MODULE_SRCS += \
    $(LOCAL_DIR)/console.c \
    $(LOCAL_DIR)/io.c \