This can be fixed by using the inittab from the debian template (attached).
id:3:initdefault: si::sysinit:/etc/init.d/rcS l0:0:wait:/etc/init.d/rc 0 l1:1:wait:/etc/init.d/rc 1 l2:2:wait:/etc/init.d/rc 2 l3:3:wait:/etc/init.d/rc 3 l4:4:wait:/etc/init.d/rc 4 l5:5:wait:/etc/init.d/rc 5 l6:6:wait:/etc/init.d/rc 6 # Normally not reached, but fallthrough in case of emergency. z6:6:respawn:/sbin/sulogin 1:2345:respawn:/sbin/getty 38400 console c1:12345:respawn:/sbin/getty 38400 tty1 linux c2:12345:respawn:/sbin/getty 38400 tty2 linux c3:12345:respawn:/sbin/getty 38400 tty3 linux c4:12345:respawn:/sbin/getty 38400 tty4 linux p6::ctrlaltdel:/sbin/init 6 p0::powerfail:/sbin/init 0
