diff --git a/libraries/AP_Compass/AP_Compass_VRBRAIN.cpp b/libraries/AP_Compass/AP_Compass_VRBRAIN.cpp
index fe42a63929..7f05388a66 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Compass/AP_Compass_VRBRAIN.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_Compass/AP_Compass_VRBRAIN.cpp
@@ -57,10 +57,8 @@ bool AP_Compass_VRBRAIN::init(void)
 	}
 
     for (uint8_t i=0; i<_num_instances; i++) {
-#ifdef DEVIOCGDEVICEID
         // get device id
         _dev_id[i] = ioctl(_mag_fd[i], DEVIOCGDEVICEID, 0);
-#endif
 
         // average over up to 20 samples
         if (ioctl(_mag_fd[i], SENSORIOCSQUEUEDEPTH, 20) != 0) {
@@ -70,6 +68,11 @@ bool AP_Compass_VRBRAIN::init(void)
 
         // remember if the compass is external
         _is_external[i] = (ioctl(_mag_fd[i], MAGIOCGEXTERNAL, 0) > 0);
+#if defined(CONFIG_ARCH_BOARD_VRBRAIN_V45)
+		//deal with situations where user has cut internal mag on VRBRAIN 4.5 
+		//and uses only one external mag attached to the internal I2C bus
+		_is_external[i] = _external.load() ? _external.get() : _is_external[i];
+#endif
         if (_is_external[i]) {
             hal.console->printf("Using external compass[%u]\n", (unsigned)i);
         }
@@ -109,7 +112,7 @@ bool AP_Compass_VRBRAIN::read(void)
         _sum[i].rotate(MAG_BOARD_ORIENTATION);
 
         // override any user setting of COMPASS_EXTERNAL 
-        _external.set(_is_external[0]);
+        //_external.set(_is_external[0]);
 
         if (_is_external[i]) {
             // add user selectable orientation