diff --git a/ArduCopter/heli.cpp b/ArduCopter/heli.cpp
index 69ba783f75..3cad00d6ae 100644
--- a/ArduCopter/heli.cpp
+++ b/ArduCopter/heli.cpp
@@ -18,6 +18,19 @@ void Copter::heli_init()
 {
     // helicopters are always using motor interlock
     set_using_interlock(true);
+
+    /*
+      automatically set H_RSC_MIN and H_RSC_MAX from RC8_MIN and
+      RC8_MAX so that when users upgrade from tradheli version 3.3 to
+      3.4 they get the same throttle range as in previous versions of
+      the code
+     */
+    if (!g.heli_servo_rsc.radio_min.load()) {
+        g.heli_servo_rsc.radio_min.set_and_save(g.rc_8.radio_min.get());
+    }
+    if (!g.heli_servo_rsc.radio_max.load()) {
+        g.heli_servo_rsc.radio_max.set_and_save(g.rc_8.radio_max.get());
+    }
 }
 
 // get_pilot_desired_collective - converts pilot input (from 0 ~ 1000) to a value that can be fed into the channel_throttle->servo_out function
diff --git a/ArduCopter/system.cpp b/ArduCopter/system.cpp
index b8acf826f2..04e3b5cc8b 100644
--- a/ArduCopter/system.cpp
+++ b/ArduCopter/system.cpp
@@ -166,6 +166,11 @@ void Copter::init_ardupilot()
     log_init();
 #endif
 
+#if FRAME_CONFIG == HELI_FRAME
+    // trad heli specific initialisation
+    heli_init();
+#endif
+    
     init_rc_in();               // sets up rc channels from radio
     init_rc_out();              // sets up motors and output to escs
 
@@ -257,11 +262,6 @@ void Copter::init_ardupilot()
     reset_control_switch();
     init_aux_switches();
 
-#if FRAME_CONFIG == HELI_FRAME
-    // trad heli specific initialisation
-    heli_init();
-#endif
-
     startup_ground(true);
 
     // we don't want writes to the serial port to cause us to pause