diff --git a/include/ttyent.h b/include/ttyent.h
index f2220ad73b94..c173bb81803b 100644
--- a/include/ttyent.h
+++ b/include/ttyent.h
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 #define	_TTYS_OFF	"off"
 #define	_TTYS_ON	"on"
 #define	_TTYS_ONIFCONSOLE "onifconsole"
+#define	_TTYS_ONIFEXISTS "onifexists"
 #define	_TTYS_SECURE	"secure"
 #define	_TTYS_INSECURE	"insecure"
 #define	_TTYS_WINDOW	"window"
diff --git a/lib/libc/gen/getttyent.c b/lib/libc/gen/getttyent.c
index 8e9ac9883a51..aa08632f60fc 100644
--- a/lib/libc/gen/getttyent.c
+++ b/lib/libc/gen/getttyent.c
@@ -97,6 +97,26 @@ done:
 	return (0);
 }
 
+static int
+auto_exists_status(const char *ty_name)
+{
+	struct stat sb;
+	char *dev;
+	int rv;
+
+	rv = 0;
+	if (*ty_name == '/')
+		asprintf(&dev, "%s", ty_name);
+	else
+		asprintf(&dev, "/dev/%s", ty_name);
+	if (dev == NULL)
+		return 0;
+	if (stat(dev, &sb) == 0)
+		rv = TTY_ON;
+	free(dev);
+	return (rv);
+}
+
 struct ttyent *
 getttyent(void)
 {
@@ -161,6 +181,8 @@ getttyent(void)
 			tty.ty_status |= TTY_ON;
 		else if (scmp(_TTYS_ONIFCONSOLE))
 			tty.ty_status |= auto_tty_status(tty.ty_name);
+		else if (scmp(_TTYS_ONIFEXISTS))
+			tty.ty_status |= auto_exists_status(tty.ty_name);
 		else if (scmp(_TTYS_SECURE))
 			tty.ty_status |= TTY_SECURE;
 		else if (scmp(_TTYS_INSECURE))
diff --git a/libexec/getty/ttys.5 b/libexec/getty/ttys.5
index d4c7f1d1a249..1150909752a8 100644
--- a/libexec/getty/ttys.5
+++ b/libexec/getty/ttys.5
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 .\"     from: @(#)ttys.5	8.1 (Berkeley) 6/4/93
 .\" $FreeBSD$
 .\" "
-.Dd March 9, 2014
+.Dd March 16, 2017
 .Dt TTYS 5
 .Os
 .Sh NAME
@@ -105,6 +105,12 @@ should (should not) execute the command given in the second field.
 ``onifconsole'' will cause this line to be enabled if and only if it is
 an active kernel console device (it is equivalent to ``on'' in this
 case).
+The flag ``onifexists'' will cause this line to be enabled if and only
+if the name exists.
+If the name starts with a ``/'', it will be considered an absolute
+path.
+Otherwise, it is considered a path relative to
+.Pa /dev .
 The flag ``secure'' (if the console is enabled) allows users with a
 uid of 0 to login on
 this line.