diff --git a/ArduSub/sensors.cpp b/ArduSub/sensors.cpp
index 4e1c481b3b..501477fa3a 100644
--- a/ArduSub/sensors.cpp
+++ b/ArduSub/sensors.cpp
@@ -83,7 +83,8 @@ void Sub::rpm_update(void)
 // initialise compass
 void Sub::init_compass()
 {
-    if (!compass.init() || !compass.read()) {
+    compass.init();
+    if (!compass.read()) {
         // make sure we don't pass a broken compass to DCM
         hal.console->println("COMPASS INIT ERROR");
         Log_Write_Error(ERROR_SUBSYSTEM_COMPASS,ERROR_CODE_FAILED_TO_INITIALISE);