diff --git a/meta/classes-recipe/core-image.bbclass b/meta/classes-recipe/core-image.bbclass
index 7ef7d07390..4b5f2c99c4 100644
--- a/meta/classes-recipe/core-image.bbclass
+++ b/meta/classes-recipe/core-image.bbclass
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 #   - allow-empty-password
 #   - allow-root-login
 #   - post-install-logging
+# - serial-autologin-root - with 'empty-root-password': autologin 'root' on the serial console
 # - dev-pkgs            - development packages (headers, etc.) for all installed packages in the rootfs
 # - dbg-pkgs            - debug symbol packages for all installed packages in the rootfs
 # - lic-pkgs            - license packages for all installed pacakges in the rootfs, requires
diff --git a/meta/classes-recipe/image.bbclass b/meta/classes-recipe/image.bbclass
index 433172378a..e387645503 100644
--- a/meta/classes-recipe/image.bbclass
+++ b/meta/classes-recipe/image.bbclass
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ INHIBIT_DEFAULT_DEPS = "1"
 # IMAGE_FEATURES may contain any available package group
 IMAGE_FEATURES ?= ""
 IMAGE_FEATURES[type] = "list"
-IMAGE_FEATURES[validitems] += "debug-tweaks read-only-rootfs read-only-rootfs-delayed-postinsts stateless-rootfs empty-root-password allow-empty-password allow-root-login post-install-logging overlayfs-etc"
+IMAGE_FEATURES[validitems] += "debug-tweaks read-only-rootfs read-only-rootfs-delayed-postinsts stateless-rootfs empty-root-password allow-empty-password allow-root-login serial-autologin-root post-install-logging overlayfs-etc"
 
 # Generate companion debugfs?
 IMAGE_GEN_DEBUGFS ?= "0"
diff --git a/meta/classes-recipe/rootfs-postcommands.bbclass b/meta/classes-recipe/rootfs-postcommands.bbclass
index d40adf5f0e..bf1e992bb2 100644
--- a/meta/classes-recipe/rootfs-postcommands.bbclass
+++ b/meta/classes-recipe/rootfs-postcommands.bbclass
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@ ROOTFS_POSTPROCESS_COMMAND += '${@bb.utils.contains_any("IMAGE_FEATURES", [ 'deb
 # Allow dropbear/openssh to accept root logins if debug-tweaks or allow-root-login is enabled
 ROOTFS_POSTPROCESS_COMMAND += '${@bb.utils.contains_any("IMAGE_FEATURES", [ 'debug-tweaks', 'allow-root-login' ], "ssh_allow_root_login; ", "",d)}'
 
+# Autologin the root user on the serial console, if empty-root-password and serial-autologin-root are active
+ROOTFS_POSTPROCESS_COMMAND += '${@bb.utils.contains("IMAGE_FEATURES", [ 'empty-root-password', 'serial-autologin-root' ], "serial_autologin_root; ", "",d)}'
+
 # Enable postinst logging if debug-tweaks or post-install-logging is enabled
 ROOTFS_POSTPROCESS_COMMAND += '${@bb.utils.contains_any("IMAGE_FEATURES", [ 'debug-tweaks', 'post-install-logging' ], "postinst_enable_logging; ", "",d)}'
 
@@ -201,6 +204,23 @@ ssh_allow_root_login () {
 	fi
 }
 
+#
+# Autologin the 'root' user on the serial terminal,
+# if empty-root-password' AND 'serial-autologin-root are enabled
+#
+serial_autologin_root () {
+	if ${@bb.utils.contains("DISTRO_FEATURES", "sysvinit", "true", "false", d)}; then
+		# add autologin option to util-linux getty only
+		sed -i 's/options="/&--autologin root /' \
+			"${IMAGE_ROOTFS}${base_bindir}/start_getty"
+	elif ${@bb.utils.contains("DISTRO_FEATURES", "systemd", "true", "false", d)}; then
+		if [ -e ${IMAGE_ROOTFS}${systemd_system_unitdir}/serial-getty@.service ]; then
+			sed -i '/^\s*ExecStart\b/ s/getty /&--autologin root /' \
+				"${IMAGE_ROOTFS}${systemd_system_unitdir}/serial-getty@.service"
+		fi
+	fi
+}
+
 python sort_passwd () {
     import rootfspostcommands
     rootfspostcommands.sort_passwd(d.expand('${IMAGE_ROOTFS}${sysconfdir}'))
diff --git a/meta/recipes-core/sysvinit/sysvinit-inittab/start_getty b/meta/recipes-core/sysvinit/sysvinit-inittab/start_getty
index 699a1ead1a..7106fb72fb 100644
--- a/meta/recipes-core/sysvinit/sysvinit-inittab/start_getty
+++ b/meta/recipes-core/sysvinit/sysvinit-inittab/start_getty
@@ -9,9 +9,10 @@ case $(readlink -f "${getty}") in
         if [ -x "/usr/bin/setsid" ] ; then
             setsid="/usr/bin/setsid"
         fi
+        options=""
         ;;
 esac
 
 if [ -e /sys/class/tty/$2 -a -c /dev/$2 ]; then
-	${setsid:-} ${getty} -L $1 $2 $3
+	${setsid:-} ${getty} ${options:-} -L $1 $2 $3
 fi