diff --git a/ArduPlane/pullup.cpp b/ArduPlane/pullup.cpp
index 1f91ca0ac2..b8cb1a7727 100644
--- a/ArduPlane/pullup.cpp
+++ b/ArduPlane/pullup.cpp
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ bool GliderPullup::verify_pullup(void)
     switch (stage) {
     case Stage::WAIT_AIRSPEED: {
         float aspeed;
-        if (ahrs.airspeed_estimate(aspeed) && aspeed > airspeed_start) {
+        if (ahrs.airspeed_estimate(aspeed) && (aspeed > airspeed_start || ahrs.pitch_sensor*0.01 > pitch_start)) {
             gcs().send_text(MAV_SEVERITY_INFO, "Pullup airspeed %.1fm/s alt %.1fm AMSL", aspeed, current_loc.alt*0.01);
             stage = Stage::WAIT_PITCH;
         }