diff --git a/libraries/AP_Math/AP_Math.h b/libraries/AP_Math/AP_Math.h
index a59bde2039..a26ae6d606 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Math/AP_Math.h
+++ b/libraries/AP_Math/AP_Math.h
@@ -31,7 +31,10 @@ float safe_sqrt(float v);
 enum Rotation rotation_combination(enum Rotation r1, enum Rotation r2, bool *found = NULL);
 
 // return distance in meters between two locations
-int32_t get_distance(const struct Location *loc1, const struct Location *loc2);
+float get_distance(const struct Location *loc1, const struct Location *loc2);
+
+// return distance in centimeters between two locations
+int32_t get_distance_cm(const struct Location *loc1, const struct Location *loc2);
 
 // return bearing in centi-degrees between two locations
 int32_t get_bearing(const struct Location *loc1, const struct Location *loc2);
diff --git a/libraries/AP_Math/location.cpp b/libraries/AP_Math/location.cpp
index fc3194af0a..9985c20965 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Math/location.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_Math/location.cpp
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ static float longitude_scale(const struct Location *loc)
 
 // return distance in meters to between two locations, or -1
 // if one of the locations is invalid
-int32_t get_distance(const struct Location *loc1, const struct Location *loc2)
+float get_distance(const struct Location *loc1, const struct Location *loc2)
 {
 	if (loc1->lat == 0 || loc1->lng == 0)
 		return -1;
@@ -53,6 +53,13 @@ int32_t get_distance(const struct Location *loc1, const struct Location *loc2)
 	return sqrt(sq(dlat) + sq(dlong)) * .01113195;
 }
 
+// return distance in centimeters to between two locations, or -1 if
+// one of the locations is invalid
+int32_t get_distance_cm(const struct Location *loc1, const struct Location *loc2)
+{
+    return get_distance(loc1, loc2) * 100;
+}
+
 // return bearing in centi-degrees between two locations
 int32_t get_bearing(const struct Location *loc1, const struct Location *loc2)
 {