diff --git a/libraries/AP_SerialManager/AP_SerialManager.cpp b/libraries/AP_SerialManager/AP_SerialManager.cpp
index f8df46ef28..936713997d 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_SerialManager/AP_SerialManager.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_SerialManager/AP_SerialManager.cpp
@@ -411,3 +411,13 @@ bool AP_SerialManager::protocol_match(enum SerialProtocol protocol1, enum Serial
 
     return false;
 }
+
+
+namespace AP {
+
+AP_SerialManager &serialmanager()
+{
+    return *AP_SerialManager::get_instance();
+}
+
+}
diff --git a/libraries/AP_SerialManager/AP_SerialManager.h b/libraries/AP_SerialManager/AP_SerialManager.h
index bff0d62251..1c9b55cfb3 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_SerialManager/AP_SerialManager.h
+++ b/libraries/AP_SerialManager/AP_SerialManager.h
@@ -161,3 +161,7 @@ private:
     // protocol_match - returns true if the protocols match
     bool protocol_match(enum SerialProtocol protocol1, enum SerialProtocol protocol2) const;
 };
+
+namespace AP {
+    AP_SerialManager &serialmanager();
+};