diff --git a/libraries/AP_Mission/AP_Mission.cpp b/libraries/AP_Mission/AP_Mission.cpp
index c9f05dbd5a..864c12df91 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Mission/AP_Mission.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_Mission/AP_Mission.cpp
@@ -1968,6 +1968,23 @@ bool AP_Mission::contains_item(MAV_CMD command) const
     return false;
 }
 
+/*
+  return true if the mission has a terrain relative item
+ */
+bool AP_Mission::contains_terrain_relative(void) const
+{
+    for (int i = 1; i < num_commands(); i++) {
+        Mission_Command tmp;
+        if (!read_cmd_from_storage(i, tmp)) {
+            continue;
+        }
+        if (stored_in_location(tmp.id) && tmp.content.location.terrain_alt) {
+            return true;
+        }
+    }
+    return false;
+}
+
 // singleton instance
 AP_Mission *AP_Mission::_singleton;
 
diff --git a/libraries/AP_Mission/AP_Mission.h b/libraries/AP_Mission/AP_Mission.h
index 9034942fba..bdecfecfd2 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Mission/AP_Mission.h
+++ b/libraries/AP_Mission/AP_Mission.h
@@ -480,6 +480,9 @@ public:
     // returns true if the mission contains the requested items
     bool contains_item(MAV_CMD command) const;
 
+    // returns true if the mission has a terrain relative mission item
+    bool contains_terrain_relative(void) const;
+    
     // user settable parameters
     static const struct AP_Param::GroupInfo var_info[];