diff --git a/libraries/AP_HAL_SITL/HAL_SITL_Class.cpp b/libraries/AP_HAL_SITL/HAL_SITL_Class.cpp
index b791c7434b..a034fedd1c 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_HAL_SITL/HAL_SITL_Class.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_HAL_SITL/HAL_SITL_Class.cpp
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ void HAL_SITL::run(int argc, char * const argv[], Callbacks* callbacks) const
     fill_stack_nan();
 
     callbacks->setup();
-    scheduler->system_initialized();
+    scheduler->set_system_initialized();
 
 #ifndef HAL_NO_LOGGING
     if (getenv("SITL_WATCHDOG_RESET")) {
diff --git a/libraries/AP_HAL_SITL/Scheduler.cpp b/libraries/AP_HAL_SITL/Scheduler.cpp
index 4c9a11e7d7..348d8118f9 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_HAL_SITL/Scheduler.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_HAL_SITL/Scheduler.cpp
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ void Scheduler::register_timer_failsafe(AP_HAL::Proc failsafe, uint32_t period_u
     _failsafe = failsafe;
 }
 
-void Scheduler::system_initialized() {
+void Scheduler::set_system_initialized() {
     if (_initialized) {
         AP_HAL::panic(
             "PANIC: scheduler system initialized called more than once");
diff --git a/libraries/AP_HAL_SITL/Scheduler.h b/libraries/AP_HAL_SITL/Scheduler.h
index 8d30b3ecf2..a6bbb84a65 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_HAL_SITL/Scheduler.h
+++ b/libraries/AP_HAL_SITL/Scheduler.h
@@ -28,7 +28,8 @@ public:
     void register_timer_failsafe(AP_HAL::Proc, uint32_t period_us) override;
 
     bool in_main_thread() const override;
-    void system_initialized() override;
+    bool is_system_initialized() override { return _initialized; };
+    void set_system_initialized() override;
 
     void reboot(bool hold_in_bootloader) override;