diff --git a/libraries/AP_TECS/AP_TECS.cpp b/libraries/AP_TECS/AP_TECS.cpp
index b779d71cce..45abcbad13 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_TECS/AP_TECS.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_TECS/AP_TECS.cpp
@@ -391,12 +391,12 @@ void AP_TECS::_update_speed(float load_factor)
         // small time constant
     }
 
-    // Get airspeed or default to halfway between min and max if
-    // airspeed is not being used and set speed rate to zero
+    // Get measured airspeed or default to trim speed and constrain to range between min and max if
+    // airspeed sensor data cannot be used
     bool use_airspeed = _use_synthetic_airspeed_once || _use_synthetic_airspeed.get() || _ahrs.airspeed_sensor_enabled();
     if (!use_airspeed || !_ahrs.airspeed_estimate(_EAS)) {
         // If no airspeed available use average of min and max
-        _EAS = 0.5f * (aparm.airspeed_min.get() + (float)aparm.airspeed_max.get());
+        _EAS = constrain_float(0.01f * (float)aparm.airspeed_cruise_cm.get(), (float)aparm.airspeed_min.get(), (float)aparm.airspeed_max.get());
     }
 
     // Implement a second order complementary filter to obtain a