diff --git a/libraries/AP_BoardConfig/board_drivers.cpp b/libraries/AP_BoardConfig/board_drivers.cpp
index 06f9bb9e10..5eaac1381d 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_BoardConfig/board_drivers.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_BoardConfig/board_drivers.cpp
@@ -152,6 +152,7 @@ bool AP_BoardConfig::spi_check_register(const char *devname, uint8_t regnum, uin
     return v == value;
 }
 
+#if defined(HAL_VALIDATE_BOARD)
 static bool check_ms5611(const char* devname) {
     auto dev = hal.spi->get_device(devname);
     if (!dev) {
@@ -210,6 +211,7 @@ static bool check_ms5611(const char* devname) {
 
     return true;
 }
+#endif // HAL_VALIDATE_BOARD
 
 #define MPUREG_WHOAMI 0x75
 #define MPU_WHOAMI_MPU60X0  0x68