diff --git a/default_config.cmake b/default_config.cmake
index f71dafbc5..2ba2c0d1d 100644
--- a/default_config.cmake
+++ b/default_config.cmake
@@ -180,6 +180,31 @@ set(OSAL_CONFIG_DEBUG_PRINTF                    FALSE
     CACHE BOOL "Controls inclusion of OS_DEBUG statements in the code"
 )
 
+#
+# OS_CONFIG_CONSOLE_ASYNC
+# ----------------------------------
+#
+# Controls whether the console device writes (OS_printf) will be deferred
+# to a separate utility task or handled directly by the calling task.
+#
+# If set FALSE, the utility task WILL NOT be spawned, and all OS_printf()
+# calls will be synchronously written to the console device.
+#
+# If set TRUE, an extra utility task WILL be spawned, and the data from
+# all OS_printf() calls will be written to an output queue which is then
+# transferred to the console device by the utility task.
+#
+# When this is TRUE (default), it may improve real time performance by not
+# requiring the caller to delay on a potentially slow console device output.
+#
+# However decoupling in this manner requires creation of an extra task and
+# stack to handle the output, and a side effect is that the OS_printf() output
+# can become decoupled from the event/task where it actually occurred, or
+# messages might appear in a different order than they originally occurred.
+#
+set(OSAL_CONFIG_CONSOLE_ASYNC                   TRUE
+    CACHE BOOL "Controls spawning of a separate utility task for OS_printf"
+)
 
 #############################################
 # Resource Limits for the OS API
diff --git a/osconfig.h.in b/osconfig.h.in
index a7f947b18..fc1710b2d 100644
--- a/osconfig.h.in
+++ b/osconfig.h.in
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@
 #cmakedefine OSAL_CONFIG_INCLUDE_SHELL
 #cmakedefine OSAL_CONFIG_DEBUG_PRINTF
 #cmakedefine OSAL_CONFIG_DEBUG_PERMISSIVE_MODE
+#cmakedefine OSAL_CONFIG_CONSOLE_ASYNC
 
 #cmakedefine OSAL_CONFIG_BUGCHECK_DISABLE
 #cmakedefine OSAL_CONFIG_BUGCHECK_STRICT
diff --git a/src/os/posix/inc/os-impl-console.h b/src/os/posix/inc/os-impl-console.h
index ac0140053..73faaedb6 100644
--- a/src/os/posix/inc/os-impl-console.h
+++ b/src/os/posix/inc/os-impl-console.h
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@
 /* Console device */
 typedef struct
 {
-    bool  is_async;
     sem_t data_sem;
 } OS_impl_console_internal_record_t;
 
diff --git a/src/os/posix/src/os-impl-console.c b/src/os/posix/src/os-impl-console.c
index 44da26742..b6770fa25 100644
--- a/src/os/posix/src/os-impl-console.c
+++ b/src/os/posix/src/os-impl-console.c
@@ -68,16 +68,9 @@ void OS_ConsoleWakeup_Impl(const OS_object_token_t *token)
 
     local = OS_OBJECT_TABLE_GET(OS_impl_console_table, *token);
 
-    if (local->is_async)
-    {
-        /* post the sem for the utility task to run */
-        sem_post(&local->data_sem);
-    }
-    else
-    {
-        /* output directly */
-        OS_ConsoleOutput_Impl(token);
-    }
+    /* post the sem for the utility task to run */
+    sem_post(&local->data_sem);
+
 } /* end OS_ConsoleWakeup_Impl */
 
 /*----------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -121,18 +114,19 @@ static void *OS_ConsoleTask_Entry(void *arg)
 int32 OS_ConsoleCreate_Impl(const OS_object_token_t *token)
 {
     OS_impl_console_internal_record_t *local;
+    OS_console_internal_record_t *     console;
     pthread_t                          consoletask;
     int32                              return_code;
     OS_VoidPtrValueWrapper_t           local_arg = {0};
 
-    local = OS_OBJECT_TABLE_GET(OS_impl_console_table, *token);
+    console = OS_OBJECT_TABLE_GET(OS_console_table, *token);
+    local   = OS_OBJECT_TABLE_GET(OS_impl_console_table, *token);
 
     if (token->obj_idx == 0)
     {
-        return_code     = OS_SUCCESS;
-        local->is_async = OS_CONSOLE_ASYNC;
+        return_code = OS_SUCCESS;
 
-        if (local->is_async)
+        if (console->IsAsync)
         {
             if (sem_init(&local->data_sem, 0, 0) < 0)
             {
diff --git a/src/os/rtems/inc/os-impl-console.h b/src/os/rtems/inc/os-impl-console.h
index b015783a9..1ad387fa3 100644
--- a/src/os/rtems/inc/os-impl-console.h
+++ b/src/os/rtems/inc/os-impl-console.h
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@
 /* Console device */
 typedef struct
 {
-    bool  is_async;
     sem_t data_sem;
 } OS_impl_console_internal_record_t;
 
diff --git a/src/os/rtems/src/os-impl-console.c b/src/os/rtems/src/os-impl-console.c
index 08cac6524..ce3ee18c8 100644
--- a/src/os/rtems/src/os-impl-console.c
+++ b/src/os/rtems/src/os-impl-console.c
@@ -67,7 +67,6 @@
 /* Console device */
 typedef struct
 {
-    bool     is_async;
     rtems_id data_sem;
     int      out_fd;
 } OS_impl_console_internal_record_t;
@@ -93,16 +92,9 @@ void OS_ConsoleWakeup_Impl(const OS_object_token_t *token)
 
     local = OS_OBJECT_TABLE_GET(OS_impl_console_table, *token);
 
-    if (local->is_async)
-    {
-        /* post the sem for the utility task to run */
-        rtems_semaphore_release(local->data_sem);
-    }
-    else
-    {
-        /* output directly */
-        OS_ConsoleOutput_Impl(token);
-    }
+    /* post the sem for the utility task to run */
+    rtems_semaphore_release(local->data_sem);
+
 } /* end OS_ConsoleWakeup_Impl */
 
 /*----------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -143,20 +135,21 @@ static void OS_ConsoleTask_Entry(rtems_task_argument arg)
 int32 OS_ConsoleCreate_Impl(const OS_object_token_t *token)
 {
     OS_impl_console_internal_record_t *local;
+    OS_console_internal_record_t *     console;
     int32                              return_code;
     rtems_name                         r_name;
     rtems_id                           r_task_id;
     rtems_status_code                  status;
 
-    local = OS_OBJECT_TABLE_GET(OS_impl_console_table, *token);
+    local   = OS_OBJECT_TABLE_GET(OS_impl_console_table, *token);
+    console = OS_OBJECT_TABLE_GET(OS_console_table, *token);
 
     if (OS_ObjectIndexFromToken(token) == 0)
     {
-        return_code     = OS_SUCCESS;
-        local->is_async = OS_CONSOLE_ASYNC;
-        local->out_fd   = OSAL_CONSOLE_FILENO;
+        return_code   = OS_SUCCESS;
+        local->out_fd = OSAL_CONSOLE_FILENO;
 
-        if (local->is_async)
+        if (console->IsAsync)
         {
             OS_DEBUG("%s(): Starting Async Console Handler\n", __func__);
             /*
diff --git a/src/os/shared/inc/os-shared-console.h b/src/os/shared/inc/os-shared-console.h
index b13762844..ccba744f6 100644
--- a/src/os/shared/inc/os-shared-console.h
+++ b/src/os/shared/inc/os-shared-console.h
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ typedef struct
     volatile size_t ReadPos;        /**< Offset of next byte to read */
     volatile size_t WritePos;       /**< Offset of next byte to write */
     uint32          OverflowEvents; /**< Number of lines dropped due to overflow */
+    bool            IsAsync;        /**< Whether to write data via deferred utility task */
 
 } OS_console_internal_record_t;
 
diff --git a/src/os/shared/src/osapi-printf.c b/src/os/shared/src/osapi-printf.c
index c2aede39d..fe3dfe427 100644
--- a/src/os/shared/src/osapi-printf.c
+++ b/src/os/shared/src/osapi-printf.c
@@ -56,6 +56,16 @@
 #include "os-shared-idmap.h"
 #include "os-shared-printf.h"
 
+/*
+ * The choice of whether to run a separate utility task
+ * comes from osal compile-time config
+ */
+#ifdef OSAL_CONFIG_CONSOLE_ASYNC
+#define OS_CONSOLE_IS_ASYNC true
+#else
+#define OS_CONSOLE_IS_ASYNC false
+#endif
+
 /* reserve buffer memory for the printf console device */
 static char OS_printf_buffer_mem[(sizeof(OS_PRINTF_CONSOLE_NAME) + OS_BUFFER_SIZE) * OS_BUFFER_MSG_DEPTH];
 
@@ -99,6 +109,7 @@ int32 OS_ConsoleAPI_Init(void)
          */
         console->BufBase = OS_printf_buffer_mem;
         console->BufSize = sizeof(OS_printf_buffer_mem);
+        console->IsAsync = OS_CONSOLE_IS_ASYNC;
 
         return_code = OS_ConsoleCreate_Impl(&token);
 
@@ -234,7 +245,16 @@ int32 OS_ConsoleWrite(osal_id_t console_id, const char *Str)
          * This is done while still locked, so it can support
          * either a synchronous or asynchronous implementation.
          */
-        OS_ConsoleWakeup_Impl(&token);
+        if (console->IsAsync)
+        {
+            /* post the sem for the utility task to run */
+            OS_ConsoleWakeup_Impl(&token);
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            /* output directly */
+            OS_ConsoleOutput_Impl(&token);
+        }
 
         OS_ObjectIdRelease(&token);
     }
diff --git a/src/os/vxworks/inc/os-impl-console.h b/src/os/vxworks/inc/os-impl-console.h
index f87c9203f..862225646 100644
--- a/src/os/vxworks/inc/os-impl-console.h
+++ b/src/os/vxworks/inc/os-impl-console.h
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@
 typedef struct
 {
     VX_COUNTING_SEMAPHORE(cmem);
-    bool    is_async;
     SEM_ID  datasem;
     TASK_ID taskid;
 } OS_impl_console_internal_record_t;
diff --git a/src/os/vxworks/src/os-impl-console.c b/src/os/vxworks/src/os-impl-console.c
index a6b816492..0b880e660 100644
--- a/src/os/vxworks/src/os-impl-console.c
+++ b/src/os/vxworks/src/os-impl-console.c
@@ -74,19 +74,12 @@ void OS_ConsoleWakeup_Impl(const OS_object_token_t *token)
 
     local = OS_OBJECT_TABLE_GET(OS_impl_console_table, *token);
 
-    if (local->is_async)
+    /* post the sem for the utility task to run */
+    if (semGive(local->datasem) == ERROR)
     {
-        /* post the sem for the utility task to run */
-        if (semGive(local->datasem) == ERROR)
-        {
-            OS_DEBUG("semGive() - vxWorks errno %d\n", errno);
-        }
-    }
-    else
-    {
-        /* output directly */
-        OS_ConsoleOutput_Impl(token);
+        OS_DEBUG("semGive() - vxWorks errno %d\n", errno);
     }
+
 } /* end OS_ConsoleWakeup_Impl */
 
 /*----------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -142,10 +135,9 @@ int32 OS_ConsoleCreate_Impl(const OS_object_token_t *token)
 
     if (OS_ObjectIndexFromToken(token) == 0)
     {
-        return_code     = OS_SUCCESS;
-        local->is_async = OS_CONSOLE_ASYNC;
+        return_code = OS_SUCCESS;
 
-        if (local->is_async)
+        if (console->IsAsync)
         {
             OS_DEBUG("%s(): Starting Async Console Handler\n", __func__);
 
diff --git a/src/unit-test-coverage/shared/src/coveragetest-printf.c b/src/unit-test-coverage/shared/src/coveragetest-printf.c
index 967781511..562a59a9d 100644
--- a/src/unit-test-coverage/shared/src/coveragetest-printf.c
+++ b/src/unit-test-coverage/shared/src/coveragetest-printf.c
@@ -64,7 +64,6 @@ void Test_OS_printf(void)
      * void OS_printf_disable(void);
      * void OS_printf_enable(void);
      */
-    uint32 CallCount = 0;
 
     /* catch case where OS_printf called before init */
     OS_SharedGlobalVars.PrintfConsoleId = OS_OBJECT_ID_UNDEFINED;
@@ -80,17 +79,29 @@ void Test_OS_printf(void)
     UtAssert_True(OS_console_table[0].WritePos == 0, "WritePos (%lu) >= 0",
                   (unsigned long)OS_console_table[0].WritePos);
 
-    /* normal case */
+    /* normal case - sync mode */
+    OS_console_table[0].IsAsync = false;
     OS_printf_enable();
-    OS_printf("UnitTest3");
-    CallCount = UT_GetStubCount(UT_KEY(OS_ConsoleWakeup_Impl));
-    UtAssert_True(CallCount == 1, "OS_ConsoleWakeup_Impl() call count (%lu) == 1", (unsigned long)CallCount);
-    UtAssert_True(OS_console_table[0].WritePos >= 9, "WritePos (%lu) >= 9",
+    OS_printf("UnitTest3s");
+    UtAssert_STUB_COUNT(OS_ConsoleWakeup_Impl, 0);
+    UtAssert_STUB_COUNT(OS_ConsoleOutput_Impl, 1);
+    UtAssert_True(OS_console_table[0].WritePos >= 10, "WritePos (%lu) >= 10",
+                  (unsigned long)OS_console_table[0].WritePos);
+
+    /* normal case - async mode */
+    OS_console_table[0].IsAsync  = true;
+    OS_console_table[0].WritePos = 0;
+    OS_printf("UnitTest3a");
+    UtAssert_STUB_COUNT(OS_ConsoleWakeup_Impl, 1);
+    UtAssert_STUB_COUNT(OS_ConsoleOutput_Impl, 1);
+    UtAssert_True(OS_console_table[0].WritePos >= 10, "WritePos (%lu) >= 10",
                   (unsigned long)OS_console_table[0].WritePos);
 
     /* print a long string that does not fit in the 16-char buffer */
     OS_printf_enable();
     OS_printf("UnitTest4BufferLengthExceeded");
+    UtAssert_True(OS_console_table[0].OverflowEvents == 1, "OverflowEvents (%lu) == 1",
+                  (unsigned long)OS_console_table[0].OverflowEvents);
 
     /* test writing with a non-empty console name */
     strncpy(OS_console_table[0].device_name, "ut", sizeof(OS_console_table[0].device_name) - 1);
diff --git a/src/unit-test-coverage/vxworks/adaptors/inc/ut-adaptor-console.h b/src/unit-test-coverage/vxworks/adaptors/inc/ut-adaptor-console.h
index 73890d11b..83a1b47b1 100644
--- a/src/unit-test-coverage/vxworks/adaptors/inc/ut-adaptor-console.h
+++ b/src/unit-test-coverage/vxworks/adaptors/inc/ut-adaptor-console.h
@@ -39,9 +39,4 @@ extern size_t const UT_Ref_OS_impl_console_table_SIZE;
  */
 extern void UT_ConsoleTest_TaskEntry(int arg);
 
-/**
- * Force the "is_async" field to a given state for coverage testing
- */
-extern void UT_ConsoleTest_SetConsoleAsync(osal_index_t local_id, bool is_async);
-
 #endif /* UT_ADAPTOR_CONSOLE_H */
diff --git a/src/unit-test-coverage/vxworks/adaptors/src/ut-adaptor-console.c b/src/unit-test-coverage/vxworks/adaptors/src/ut-adaptor-console.c
index c69adb7ee..8909b537b 100644
--- a/src/unit-test-coverage/vxworks/adaptors/src/ut-adaptor-console.c
+++ b/src/unit-test-coverage/vxworks/adaptors/src/ut-adaptor-console.c
@@ -39,8 +39,3 @@ void UT_ConsoleTest_TaskEntry(int arg)
 {
     OS_VxWorks_ConsoleTask_Entry(arg);
 }
-
-void UT_ConsoleTest_SetConsoleAsync(osal_index_t local_id, bool is_async)
-{
-    OS_impl_console_table[local_id].is_async = is_async;
-}
diff --git a/src/unit-test-coverage/vxworks/src/coveragetest-console.c b/src/unit-test-coverage/vxworks/src/coveragetest-console.c
index 1865b4afa..0746f74fc 100644
--- a/src/unit-test-coverage/vxworks/src/coveragetest-console.c
+++ b/src/unit-test-coverage/vxworks/src/coveragetest-console.c
@@ -43,18 +43,13 @@ void Test_OS_ConsoleWakeup_Impl(void)
      */
     OS_object_token_t token = UT_TOKEN_0;
 
-    /* no return code - check for coverage */
-    UT_ConsoleTest_SetConsoleAsync(0, true);
+    /* this just gives the sem, only called in async mode */
     OS_ConsoleWakeup_Impl(&token);
     UtAssert_True(UT_GetStubCount(UT_KEY(OCS_semGive)) == 1, "semGive() called in async mode");
 
+    /* Failure only causes a debug message to be generated, no error handling here */
     UT_SetDefaultReturnValue(UT_KEY(OCS_semGive), -1);
     OS_ConsoleWakeup_Impl(&token);
-
-    UT_ConsoleTest_SetConsoleAsync(0, false);
-    OS_console_table[0].WritePos = 1;
-    OS_ConsoleWakeup_Impl(&token);
-    UtAssert_True(UT_GetStubCount(UT_KEY(OS_ConsoleOutput_Impl)) == 1, "OS_ConsoleOutput_Impl() called in sync mode");
 }
 
 void Test_OS_ConsoleCreate_Impl(void)
@@ -63,8 +58,15 @@ void Test_OS_ConsoleCreate_Impl(void)
 
     memset(&token, 0, sizeof(token));
 
+    /* Verify coverage when configured for sync mode */
+    OS_console_table[0].IsAsync = false;
+    OSAPI_TEST_FUNCTION_RC(OS_ConsoleCreate_Impl(&token), OS_SUCCESS);
+    UtAssert_STUB_COUNT(OCS_taskSpawn, 0); /* Task _was not_ spawned */
+
+    /* Verify coverage when configured for async mode */
+    OS_console_table[0].IsAsync = true;
     OSAPI_TEST_FUNCTION_RC(OS_ConsoleCreate_Impl(&token), OS_SUCCESS);
-    UtAssert_True(UT_GetStubCount(UT_KEY(OCS_taskSpawn)) == 1, "taskSpawn() called");
+    UtAssert_STUB_COUNT(OCS_taskSpawn, 1); /* Task _was_ spawned */
 
     UT_SetDefaultReturnValue(UT_KEY(OCS_semCInitialize), OCS_ERROR);
     OSAPI_TEST_FUNCTION_RC(OS_ConsoleCreate_Impl(&token), OS_SEM_FAILURE);