diff --git a/libraries/AP_HAL/AP_HAL_Boards.h b/libraries/AP_HAL/AP_HAL_Boards.h
index b5dddb89cb..af233e5596 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_HAL/AP_HAL_Boards.h
+++ b/libraries/AP_HAL/AP_HAL_Boards.h
@@ -206,6 +206,10 @@
 #define HAL_WITH_DSP HAL_GYROFFT_ENABLED
 #endif
 
+#ifndef AP_HAL_UARTDRIVER_ENABLED
+#define AP_HAL_UARTDRIVER_ENABLED 1
+#endif
+
 #ifndef HAL_OS_FATFS_IO
 #define HAL_OS_FATFS_IO 0
 #endif
diff --git a/libraries/AP_HAL/UARTDriver.h b/libraries/AP_HAL/UARTDriver.h
index 317ddd1fba..cf8494f2c9 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_HAL/UARTDriver.h
+++ b/libraries/AP_HAL/UARTDriver.h
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 #include <AP_Logger/AP_Logger_config.h>
 
 #ifndef HAL_UART_STATS_ENABLED
-#define HAL_UART_STATS_ENABLED !defined(HAL_NO_UARTDRIVER)
+#define HAL_UART_STATS_ENABLED AP_HAL_UARTDRIVER_ENABLED
 #endif
 
 #ifndef AP_UART_MONITOR_ENABLED