diff --git a/Tools/autotest/arducopter.py b/Tools/autotest/arducopter.py
index 424ba95c78..c243402863 100644
--- a/Tools/autotest/arducopter.py
+++ b/Tools/autotest/arducopter.py
@@ -5065,7 +5065,7 @@ class AutoTestCopter(AutoTest):
 
             # make sure we haven't already reached alt:
             m = self.mav.recv_match(type='GLOBAL_POSITION_INT', blocking=True)
-            max_initial_alt = 500
+            max_initial_alt = 2000
             if abs(m.relative_alt) > max_initial_alt:
                 raise NotAchievedException("Took off too fast (%f > %f" %
                                            (abs(m.relative_alt), max_initial_alt))
@@ -7265,6 +7265,7 @@ class AutoTestHeli(AutoTestCopter):
             if abs(m.relative_alt) > max_relalt_mm:
                 raise NotAchievedException("Took off prematurely (abs(%f)>%f)" %
                                            (m.relative_alt, max_relalt_mm))
+
             self.progress("Pushing collective past half-way")
             self.set_rc(3, 1600)
             self.delay_sim_time(0.5)
@@ -7273,8 +7274,10 @@ class AutoTestHeli(AutoTestCopter):
 
             # make sure we haven't already reached alt:
             m = self.mav.recv_match(type='GLOBAL_POSITION_INT', blocking=True)
-            if abs(m.relative_alt) > 500:
-                raise NotAchievedException("Took off too fast")
+            max_initial_alt = 1500
+            if abs(m.relative_alt) > max_initial_alt:
+                raise NotAchievedException("Took off too fast (%f > %f" %
+                                           (abs(m.relative_alt), max_initial_alt))
 
             self.progress("Monitoring takeoff-to-alt")
             self.wait_altitude(6.9, 8, relative=True)