diff --git a/ArduCopter/GCS_Mavlink.pde b/ArduCopter/GCS_Mavlink.pde
index cebf553a99..acacf31a3a 100644
--- a/ArduCopter/GCS_Mavlink.pde
+++ b/ArduCopter/GCS_Mavlink.pde
@@ -1483,6 +1483,12 @@ void GCS_MAVLINK::handleMessage(mavlink_message_t* msg)
         // mark the firmware version in the tlog
         send_text_P(SEVERITY_LOW, PSTR(FIRMWARE_STRING));
 
+        // send system ID if we can
+        char sysid[40];
+        if (hal.util->get_system_id(sysid)) {
+            mavlink_send_text(chan, SEVERITY_LOW, sysid);
+        }
+
         // Start sending parameters - next call to ::update will kick the first one out
         _queued_parameter = AP_Param::first(&_queued_parameter_token, &_queued_parameter_type);
         _queued_parameter_index = 0;
diff --git a/ArduCopter/Log.pde b/ArduCopter/Log.pde
index 95388a07ea..16fdceeab4 100644
--- a/ArduCopter/Log.pde
+++ b/ArduCopter/Log.pde
@@ -854,6 +854,12 @@ static void start_logging()
         ap.logging_started = true;
         DataFlash.StartNewLog(sizeof(log_structure)/sizeof(log_structure[0]), log_structure);
         DataFlash.Log_Write_Message_P(PSTR(FIRMWARE_STRING));
+
+        // write system identifier as well if available
+        char sysid[40];
+        if (hal.util->get_system_id(sysid)) {
+            DataFlash.Log_Write_Message(sysid);
+        }
     }
 }