diff --git a/libraries/AP_IOMCU/AP_IOMCU.cpp b/libraries/AP_IOMCU/AP_IOMCU.cpp
index b614648e77..7e2ab850a9 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_IOMCU/AP_IOMCU.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_IOMCU/AP_IOMCU.cpp
@@ -44,6 +44,10 @@ enum ioevents {
 // an error
 #define IOMCU_MAX_REPEATED_FAILURES 20
 
+#ifndef AP_IOMCU_FORCE_ENABLE_HEATER
+#define AP_IOMCU_FORCE_ENABLE_HEATER 0
+#endif
+
 AP_IOMCU::AP_IOMCU(AP_HAL::UARTDriver &_uart) :
     uart(_uart)
 {
@@ -142,6 +146,14 @@ void AP_IOMCU::thread_main(void)
                 event_failed(mask);
                 continue;
             }
+
+#if AP_IOMCU_FORCE_ENABLE_HEATER
+            if (!modify_register(PAGE_SETUP, PAGE_REG_SETUP_FEATURES, 0,
+                                 P_SETUP_FEATURES_HEATER)) {
+                event_failed(mask);
+                continue;
+            }
+#endif
         }
         mask &= ~EVENT_MASK(IOEVENT_INIT);
 
diff --git a/libraries/AP_IOMCU/iofirmware/iofirmware.cpp b/libraries/AP_IOMCU/iofirmware/iofirmware.cpp
index e981e01ad4..70a6aa6aa8 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_IOMCU/iofirmware/iofirmware.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_IOMCU/iofirmware/iofirmware.cpp
@@ -536,6 +536,9 @@ bool AP_IOMCU_FW::handle_code_write()
             } else {
                 palSetLine(HAL_GPIO_PIN_SBUS_OUT_EN);
             }
+            if (reg_setup.features & P_SETUP_FEATURES_HEATER) {
+                has_heater = true;
+            }
             break;
 
         case PAGE_REG_SETUP_HEATER_DUTY_CYCLE:
diff --git a/libraries/AP_IOMCU/iofirmware/ioprotocol.h b/libraries/AP_IOMCU/iofirmware/ioprotocol.h
index 4256b6d195..85d4b9c4bc 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_IOMCU/iofirmware/ioprotocol.h
+++ b/libraries/AP_IOMCU/iofirmware/ioprotocol.h
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ enum iopage {
 #define P_SETUP_FEATURES_ADC_RSSI   8
 #define P_SETUP_FEATURES_ONESHOT   16
 #define P_SETUP_FEATURES_BRUSHED   32
+#define P_SETUP_FEATURES_HEATER    64
 
 #define PAGE_REG_SETUP_ARMING 1
 #define P_SETUP_ARMING_IO_ARM_OK (1<<0)