diff --git a/libraries/AP_Param/AP_Param.cpp b/libraries/AP_Param/AP_Param.cpp
index 56d9cbf8ec..f1c6d949f6 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Param/AP_Param.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_Param/AP_Param.cpp
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@
     #include <SITL/SITL.h>
 #endif
 
+#include "AP_Param_config.h"
+
 extern const AP_HAL::HAL &hal;
 
 uint16_t AP_Param::sentinal_offset;
@@ -1543,14 +1545,7 @@ bool AP_Param::load_all()
  */
 void AP_Param::reload_defaults_file(bool last_pass)
 {
-#if AP_PARAM_MAX_EMBEDDED_PARAM > 0
-    if (param_defaults_data.length != 0) {
-        load_embedded_param_defaults(last_pass);
-        return;
-    }
-#endif
-
-#if AP_FILESYSTEM_POSIX_ENABLED
+#if AP_PARAM_DEFAULTS_FILE_PARSING_ENABLED
     /*
       if the HAL specifies a defaults parameter file then override
       defaults using that file
@@ -1558,12 +1553,25 @@ void AP_Param::reload_defaults_file(bool last_pass)
     const char *default_file = hal.util->get_custom_defaults_file();
     if (default_file) {
         if (load_defaults_file(default_file, last_pass)) {
+#if CONFIG_HAL_BOARD == HAL_BOARD_SITL
             printf("Loaded defaults from %s\n", default_file);
+#endif
         } else {
+#if CONFIG_HAL_BOARD == HAL_BOARD_SITL
             AP_HAL::panic("Failed to load defaults from %s\n", default_file);
+#else
+            printf("Failed to load defaults from %s\n", default_file);
+#endif
         }
     }
+#endif  // AP_PARAM_DEFAULTS_FILE_PARSING_ENABLED
+
+#if AP_PARAM_MAX_EMBEDDED_PARAM > 0
+    if (param_defaults_data.length != 0) {
+        load_embedded_param_defaults(last_pass);
+    }
 #endif
+
 #if CONFIG_HAL_BOARD == HAL_BOARD_SITL && !defined(HAL_BUILD_AP_PERIPH)
     hal.util->set_cmdline_parameters();
 #endif
@@ -2136,8 +2144,7 @@ bool AP_Param::parse_param_line(char *line, char **vname, float &value, bool &re
 }
 
 
-// FIXME: make this AP_FILESYSTEM_FILE_READING_ENABLED
-#if AP_FILESYSTEM_FATFS_ENABLED || AP_FILESYSTEM_POSIX_ENABLED
+#if AP_PARAM_DEFAULTS_FILE_PARSING_ENABLED
 
 // increments num_defaults for each default found in filename
 bool AP_Param::count_defaults_in_file(const char *filename, uint16_t &num_defaults)
@@ -2283,8 +2290,8 @@ bool AP_Param::load_defaults_file(const char *filename, bool last_pass)
 
     return true;
 }
+#endif // AP_PARAM_DEFAULTS_FILE_PARSING_ENABLED
 
-#endif // AP_FILESYSTEM_FATFS_ENABLED || AP_FILESYSTEM_POSIX_ENABLED
 
 #if AP_PARAM_MAX_EMBEDDED_PARAM > 0
 /*
diff --git a/libraries/AP_Param/AP_Param.h b/libraries/AP_Param/AP_Param.h
index db8fbde15f..85b211f7ad 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Param/AP_Param.h
+++ b/libraries/AP_Param/AP_Param.h
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@
 #include <StorageManager/StorageManager.h>
 #include <AP_Scripting/AP_Scripting_config.h>
 
+#include "AP_Param_config.h"
+
 #include "float.h"
 
 #define AP_MAX_NAME_SIZE 16
@@ -46,11 +48,15 @@
   maximum size of embedded parameter file
  */
 #ifndef AP_PARAM_MAX_EMBEDDED_PARAM
-#if BOARD_FLASH_SIZE <= 1024
-# define AP_PARAM_MAX_EMBEDDED_PARAM 1024
-#else
-# define AP_PARAM_MAX_EMBEDDED_PARAM 8192
-#endif
+  #if FORCE_APJ_DEFAULT_PARAMETERS
+    #if BOARD_FLASH_SIZE <= 1024
+      #define AP_PARAM_MAX_EMBEDDED_PARAM 1024
+    #else
+      #define AP_PARAM_MAX_EMBEDDED_PARAM 8192
+    #endif
+  #else
+    #define AP_PARAM_MAX_EMBEDDED_PARAM 0
+  #endif
 #endif
 
 // allow for dynamically added tables when scripting enabled
diff --git a/libraries/AP_Param/AP_Param_config.h b/libraries/AP_Param/AP_Param_config.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..181c9f04c3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libraries/AP_Param/AP_Param_config.h
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <AP_HAL/AP_HAL_Boards.h>
+
+#include <AP_Filesystem/AP_Filesystem_config.h>
+
+#ifndef AP_PARAM_DEFAULTS_FILE_PARSING_ENABLED
+#define AP_PARAM_DEFAULTS_FILE_PARSING_ENABLED AP_FILESYSTEM_FILE_READING_ENABLED
+#endif
+
+#ifndef FORCE_APJ_DEFAULT_PARAMETERS
+#define FORCE_APJ_DEFAULT_PARAMETERS 0
+#endif