diff --git a/src/nvim/channel.c b/src/nvim/channel.c
index dcd422aa13..203bdbe680 100644
--- a/src/nvim/channel.c
+++ b/src/nvim/channel.c
@@ -563,19 +563,13 @@ uint64_t channel_from_stdio(bool rpc, CallbackReader on_output, const char **err
   if (embedded_mode && os_has_conpty_working()) {
     stdin_dup_fd = os_dup_cloexec(STDIN_FILENO);
     stdout_dup_fd = os_dup_cloexec(STDOUT_FILENO);
-    // :restart spawns a replacement server that must not borrow the parent
-    // Nvim process console, because that parent process will soon exit.
-    const bool restart_alloc_console = os_env_exists(ENV_RESTART_ALLOC_CONSOLE, true);
-    if (restart_alloc_console) {
-      os_unsetenv(ENV_RESTART_ALLOC_CONSOLE);
-    }
     if (!GetConsoleWindow()) {
       // Borrow the parent's console so CONOUT$ resolves to the real terminal,
-      // preserving io.stdout rendering (e.g. SIXEL/Kitty images). Only fall
-      // back to a hidden AllocConsole when there is no parent console (e.g.
-      // launched from a non-console parent), or for the replacement server
-      // spawned by :restart, because the parent Nvim process will soon exit.
-      if (restart_alloc_console || !AttachConsole(ATTACH_PARENT_PROCESS)) {
+      // preserving io.stdout rendering (e.g. SIXEL/Kitty images). A replacement
+      // server started by :restart can reuse the current server's console.
+      // Only fall back to a hidden console when the parent has no console.
+      if (!AttachConsole(ATTACH_PARENT_PROCESS)) {
+        ILOG("parent console attach failed: %lu; allocating hidden console", GetLastError());
         AllocConsole();
         ShowWindow(GetConsoleWindow(), SW_HIDE);
       }
diff --git a/src/nvim/ex_docmd.c b/src/nvim/ex_docmd.c
index 6cb539deb7..7dd4a108f5 100644
--- a/src/nvim/ex_docmd.c
+++ b/src/nvim/ex_docmd.c
@@ -5079,9 +5079,6 @@ static void ex_restart(exarg_T *eap)
 
   dict_T *env = create_environment(NULL, false, false, false, NULL);
   tv_dict_add_str(env, S_LEN(ENV_STARTREASON), startreason);
-#ifdef MSWIN
-  tv_dict_add_str(env, S_LEN(ENV_RESTART_ALLOC_CONSOLE), "1");
-#endif
 
   CallbackReader on_err = CALLBACK_READER_INIT;
 #ifdef MSWIN
diff --git a/src/nvim/os/os.h b/src/nvim/os/os.h
index d9677cb58b..af8872a8a5 100644
--- a/src/nvim/os/os.h
+++ b/src/nvim/os/os.h
@@ -27,6 +27,5 @@ extern char *default_lib_dir;
 #define ENV_LOGFILE "NVIM_LOG_FILE"
 #define ENV_LOGFILE_WANT "__NVIM_LOG_FILE_WANT"
 #define ENV_NVIM "NVIM"
-#define ENV_RESTART_ALLOC_CONSOLE "__NVIM_RESTART_ALLOC_CONSOLE"
 #define ENV_STARTREASON "__NVIM_STARTREASON"
 #define ENV_TEST_LOG "__NVIM_TEST_LOG"