diff --git a/libraries/AP_OpticalFlow/OpticalFlow.cpp b/libraries/AP_OpticalFlow/OpticalFlow.cpp
index 6a15a33563..71886585a6 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_OpticalFlow/OpticalFlow.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_OpticalFlow/OpticalFlow.cpp
@@ -90,7 +90,8 @@ void OpticalFlow::init(void)
 
     if (!backend) {
 #if AP_FEATURE_BOARD_DETECT
-        if (AP_BoardConfig::get_board_type() == AP_BoardConfig::PX4_BOARD_PIXHAWK) {
+        if (AP_BoardConfig::get_board_type() == AP_BoardConfig::PX4_BOARD_PIXHAWK ||
+            AP_BoardConfig::get_board_type() == AP_BoardConfig::PX4_BOARD_PCNC1) {
             // possibly have pixhart on external SPI
             backend = AP_OpticalFlow_Pixart::detect(*this);
         }