diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 2e7a340..d76889c 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -10,10 +10,10 @@ ALLFLAGS=$(CFLAGS) -I$(IDIR)
 
 LIBS=-lm -lpam -lpam_misc
 
-_DEPS = util.h ui.h config.h auth.h efield.h keys.h users.h sessions.h
+_DEPS = util.h ui.h config.h auth.h efield.h keys.h users.h sessions.h chvt.h
 DEPS = $(patsubst %,$(IDIR)/%,$(_DEPS))
 
-_OBJ = main.o util.o ui.o config.o auth.o efield.o users.o sessions.o
+_OBJ = main.o util.o ui.o config.o auth.o efield.o users.o sessions.o chvt.o
 OBJ = $(patsubst %,$(ODIR)/%,$(_OBJ))
 
 $(ODIR)/%.o: $(CDIR)/%.c $(DEPS)
diff --git a/include/chvt.h b/include/chvt.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5d291f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/chvt.h
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+#ifndef _CHVTH_
+#define _CHVTH_
+
+#include <fcntl.h>
+#include <linux/kd.h>
+#include <linux/vt.h>
+#include <sys/ioctl.h>
+#include <unistd.h>
+
+/**
+ * @brief change foreground virtual terminal to `n`
+ *
+ * @param n virtual terminal number
+ * @return int non-negative value on success
+ */
+int chvt(int n);
+
+#endif
diff --git a/src/chvt.c b/src/chvt.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b729a11
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/chvt.c
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+#include <stdio.h>
+
+#include <chvt.h>
+
+static char *vterms[] = {"/dev/tty", "/dev/tty0", "/dev/vc/0", "/dev/systty",
+                         "/dev/console"};
+
+int chvt(int n) {
+  fprintf(stderr, "activating vt %d\n", n);
+  char c = 0;
+  for (int i = 0; i < sizeof(vterms) / sizeof(vterms[0]); i++) {
+    int fd = open(vterms[i], O_RDWR);
+    if (fd >= 0 && isatty(fd) && ioctl(fd, KDGKBTYPE, &c) == 0 && c < 3) {
+      if (ioctl(fd, VT_ACTIVATE, n) < 0 || ioctl(fd, VT_WAITACTIVE, n) < 0) {
+        fprintf(stderr, "Couldn't activate vt %d\n", n);
+        return -1;
+      }
+      return 0;
+    }
+    close(fd);
+  }
+
+  fprintf(stderr, "Couldn't get a file descriptor referring to the console.\n");
+  return -1;
+}
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index 8ed7467..20e562c 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -1,25 +1,34 @@
+#include <errno.h>
+#include <limits.h>
 #include <pwd.h>
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include <sys/ioctl.h>
 #include <sys/types.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
 
+#include <chvt.h>
 #include <config.h>
 #include <sessions.h>
 #include <ui.h>
 #include <users.h>
 
-void chvt(char *arg) {
-  size_t bsize = snprintf(NULL, 0, "chvt %s", arg) + 1;
-  char *buf = malloc(bsize);
-  snprintf(buf, bsize, "chvt %s", arg);
-  system(buf);
-  free(buf);
+int chvt_str(char *str) {
+  char *err;
+  long i = strtol(str, &err, 10);
+  if (errno) {
+    perror("strol");
+    return -1;
+  }
+  // I'm not gonna elaborate on this....
+  if (i > INT_MAX || i < INT_MIN || *err)
+    return -1;
+
+  return chvt((int)i);
 }
 
 int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
   if (argc == 2)
-    chvt(argv[1]);
+    chvt_str(argv[1]);
 
   struct config *config = parse_config("/etc/lidm.ini");
   if (config == NULL) {