diff --git a/libraries/AP_RangeFinder/AP_RangeFinder_SITL.cpp b/libraries/AP_RangeFinder/AP_RangeFinder_SITL.cpp
index 2e6e3613d8..ed7a02cfce 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_RangeFinder/AP_RangeFinder_SITL.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_RangeFinder/AP_RangeFinder_SITL.cpp
@@ -17,13 +17,13 @@
 #if AP_RANGEFINDER_SIM_ENABLED
 
 #include <AP_HAL/AP_HAL.h>
+#include <SITL/SITL.h>
 
 /*
   constructor - registers instance at top RangeFinder driver
  */
 AP_RangeFinder_SITL::AP_RangeFinder_SITL(RangeFinder::RangeFinder_State &_state, AP_RangeFinder_Params &_params, uint8_t instance) :
     AP_RangeFinder_Backend(_state, _params),
-    sitl(AP::sitl()),
     _instance(instance)
 {}
 
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ AP_RangeFinder_SITL::AP_RangeFinder_SITL(RangeFinder::RangeFinder_State &_state,
  */
 void AP_RangeFinder_SITL::update(void)
 {
-    const float dist = sitl->get_rangefinder(_instance);
+    const float dist = AP::sitl()->get_rangefinder(_instance);
 
     // negative distance means nothing is connected
     if (is_negative(dist)) {
diff --git a/libraries/AP_RangeFinder/AP_RangeFinder_SITL.h b/libraries/AP_RangeFinder/AP_RangeFinder_SITL.h
index e11763a26f..7ae23b0df6 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_RangeFinder/AP_RangeFinder_SITL.h
+++ b/libraries/AP_RangeFinder/AP_RangeFinder_SITL.h
@@ -24,8 +24,6 @@
 
 #if AP_RANGEFINDER_SIM_ENABLED
 
-#include <SITL/SITL.h>
-
 class AP_RangeFinder_SITL : public AP_RangeFinder_Backend {
 public:
     // constructor. This incorporates initialisation as well.
@@ -40,9 +38,6 @@ protected:
         return MAV_DISTANCE_SENSOR_UNKNOWN;
     }
 
-private:
-    SITL::SIM *sitl;
-
     uint8_t _instance;
 
 };