diff --git a/ArduPlane/GCS.h b/ArduPlane/GCS.h
index 18f29fb803..3fba61c76b 100644
--- a/ArduPlane/GCS.h
+++ b/ArduPlane/GCS.h
@@ -63,14 +63,14 @@ public:
 	/// @param	severity	A value describing the importance of the message.
 	/// @param	str			The text to be sent.
 	///
-	void		send_text(uint8_t severity, const char *str) {}
+	void		send_text(gcs_severity severity, const char *str) {}
 
 	/// Send a text message with a PSTR()
 	///
 	/// @param	severity	A value describing the importance of the message.
 	/// @param	str			The text to be sent.
 	///
-	void		send_text(uint8_t severity, const prog_char_t *str) {}
+	void		send_text(gcs_severity severity, const prog_char_t *str) {}
 
     // test if frequency within range requested for loop
     // used by data_stream_send
@@ -107,8 +107,8 @@ public:
 	void    update(void);
 	void	init(FastSerial *port);
 	void	send_message(enum ap_message id);
-	void	send_text(uint8_t severity, const char *str);
-	void	send_text(uint8_t severity, const prog_char_t *str);
+	void	send_text(gcs_severity severity, const char *str);
+	void	send_text(gcs_severity severity, const prog_char_t *str);
     void    data_stream_send(uint16_t freqMin, uint16_t freqMax);
 	void    queued_param_send();
 	void    queued_waypoint_send();
diff --git a/ArduPlane/GCS_Mavlink.pde b/ArduPlane/GCS_Mavlink.pde
index 182e035148..3bb1d91d83 100644
--- a/ArduPlane/GCS_Mavlink.pde
+++ b/ArduPlane/GCS_Mavlink.pde
@@ -457,7 +457,7 @@ static void mavlink_send_message(mavlink_channel_t chan, enum ap_message id, uin
     }
 }
 
-void mavlink_send_text(mavlink_channel_t chan, uint8_t severity, const char *str)
+void mavlink_send_text(mavlink_channel_t chan, gcs_severity severity, const char *str)
 {
     if (chan == MAVLINK_COMM_1 && millis() < MAVLINK_TELEMETRY_PORT_DELAY) {
         // don't send status MAVLink messages for 1 second after
@@ -607,13 +607,13 @@ GCS_MAVLINK::send_message(enum ap_message id)
 }
 
 void
-GCS_MAVLINK::send_text(uint8_t severity, const char *str)
+GCS_MAVLINK::send_text(gcs_severity severity, const char *str)
 {
     mavlink_send_text(chan,severity,str);
 }
 
 void
-GCS_MAVLINK::send_text(uint8_t severity, const prog_char_t *str)
+GCS_MAVLINK::send_text(gcs_severity severity, const prog_char_t *str)
 {
     mavlink_statustext_t m;
     uint8_t i;
@@ -1581,13 +1581,13 @@ static void gcs_update(void)
     gcs3.update();
 }
 
-static void gcs_send_text(uint8_t severity, const char *str)
+static void gcs_send_text(gcs_severity severity, const char *str)
 {
     gcs0.send_text(severity, str);
     gcs3.send_text(severity, str);
 }
 
-static void gcs_send_text_P(uint8_t severity, const prog_char_t *str)
+static void gcs_send_text_P(gcs_severity severity, const prog_char_t *str)
 {
     gcs0.send_text(severity, str);
     gcs3.send_text(severity, str);
diff --git a/ArduPlane/commands_logic.pde b/ArduPlane/commands_logic.pde
index e7d9d88505..36d0475f71 100644
--- a/ArduPlane/commands_logic.pde
+++ b/ArduPlane/commands_logic.pde
@@ -326,7 +326,7 @@ static bool verify_nav_wp()
 	// add in a more complex case
 	// Doug to do
 	if(loiter_sum > 300){
-		gcs_send_text_P(SEVERITY_MEDIUM,PSTR("<verify_must: MAV_CMD_NAV_WAYPOINT> Missed WP"));
+		gcs_send_text_P(SEVERITY_MEDIUM,PSTR("Missed WP"));
 		return true;
 	}
 	return false;
diff --git a/ArduPlane/defines.h b/ArduPlane/defines.h
index d43f4dc8bf..5e6eae62f1 100644
--- a/ArduPlane/defines.h
+++ b/ArduPlane/defines.h
@@ -131,10 +131,12 @@ enum ap_message {
     MSG_RETRY_DEFERRED // this must be last
 };
 
-#define SEVERITY_LOW 1
-#define SEVERITY_MEDIUM 2
-#define SEVERITY_HIGH 3
-#define SEVERITY_CRITICAL 4
+enum gcs_severity {
+    SEVERITY_LOW=1,
+    SEVERITY_MEDIUM,
+    SEVERITY_HIGH,
+    SEVERITY_CRITICAL
+};
 
 //  Logging parameters
 #define LOG_INDEX_MSG			0xF0