diff --git a/libraries/AP_HAL_Empty/UARTDriver.cpp b/libraries/AP_HAL_Empty/UARTDriver.cpp
index 9241248a84..7acd05d4a9 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_HAL_Empty/UARTDriver.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_HAL_Empty/UARTDriver.cpp
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ bool Empty::UARTDriver::tx_pending() { return false; }
 /* Empty implementations of Stream virtual methods */
 uint32_t Empty::UARTDriver::available() { return 0; }
 uint32_t Empty::UARTDriver::txspace() { return 1; }
-int16_t Empty::UARTDriver::read() { return -1; }
+bool Empty::UARTDriver::read(uint8_t &b) { return false; }
 bool Empty::UARTDriver::discard_input() { return false; }
 
 /* Empty implementations of Print virtual methods */
diff --git a/libraries/AP_HAL_Empty/UARTDriver.h b/libraries/AP_HAL_Empty/UARTDriver.h
index 8aad82b197..adc08b1501 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_HAL_Empty/UARTDriver.h
+++ b/libraries/AP_HAL_Empty/UARTDriver.h
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ public:
     /* Empty implementations of Stream virtual methods */
     uint32_t available() override;
     uint32_t txspace() override;
-    int16_t read() override;
+    bool read(uint8_t &b) override WARN_IF_UNUSED;
     bool discard_input() override;
 
     /* Empty implementations of Print virtual methods */