diff --git a/libraries/AP_NavEKF3/AP_NavEKF3.cpp b/libraries/AP_NavEKF3/AP_NavEKF3.cpp
index 217450a0bd..4c1acc7a4f 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_NavEKF3/AP_NavEKF3.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_NavEKF3/AP_NavEKF3.cpp
@@ -1549,7 +1549,7 @@ uint32_t NavEKF3::getLastVelNorthEastReset(Vector2f &vel) const
 const char *NavEKF3::prearm_failure_reason(void) const
 {
     if (!core) {
-        return nullptr;
+        return "no EKF3 cores";
     }
     for (uint8_t i = 0; i < num_cores; i++) {
         const char * failure = core[primary].prearm_failure_reason();