System crashes during boot to single user mode using nvidia graphics

Caveat: I can't definitively narrow this bug down to console-setup, as I'm having trouble figuring out how to keep it from running on boot. However, here's the evidence I've got to indicate it's console-setup's issue.

Boot with "recovery" on the kernel command line: This works, I get the recovery menu and can drop to a shell.

Boot with "single" on the kernel command line: This does not work, system hangs immediately after printing "fsck from util-linux 2.19.1".

If I switch the BIOS into Intel graphics mode (not a useful workaround, this machine has a significant 3d graphics load during normal use), I can boot to "single" just fine, and the console text mode changes (which does not happen during the crashing "nvidia" boot, nor does the console text mode change when booting with "recovery").

So if it's not in console-setup, it's close by. Any suggestions on how to ensure that the video hardware does not get messed with until X starts are appreciated. (X seems to work just fine).

Thanks.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.10
Package: console-setup 1.57ubuntu27
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.0.0-14.23-generic 3.0.9
Uname: Linux 3.0.0-14-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
ApportVersion: 1.23-0ubuntu4
Architecture: amd64
Date: Thu Jan 12 12:09:18 2012
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.10 "Oneiric Ocelot" - Release amd64 (20111012)
PackageArchitecture: all
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, user)
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/zsh
SourcePackage: console-setup
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)