diff --git a/libraries/AP_Mount/AP_Mount.cpp b/libraries/AP_Mount/AP_Mount.cpp
index 854325b99d..4d80ed05c1 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Mount/AP_Mount.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_Mount/AP_Mount.cpp
@@ -404,8 +404,18 @@ bool AP_Mount::get_attitude_euler(uint8_t instance, float& roll_deg, float& pitc
         return false;
     }
 
-    // send command to backend
-    return _backends[instance]->get_attitude_euler(roll_deg, pitch_deg, yaw_bf_deg);
+    // re-use get_attitude_quaternion and convert to Euler angles
+    Quaternion att_quat;
+    if (!_backends[instance]->get_attitude_quaternion(att_quat)) {
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    float roll_rad, pitch_rad, yaw_rad;
+    att_quat.to_euler(roll_rad, pitch_rad, yaw_rad);
+    roll_deg = degrees(roll_rad);
+    pitch_deg = degrees(pitch_rad);
+    yaw_bf_deg = degrees(yaw_rad);
+    return true;
 }
 
 // run pre-arm check.  returns false on failure and fills in failure_msg
diff --git a/libraries/AP_Mount/AP_Mount_Backend.cpp b/libraries/AP_Mount/AP_Mount_Backend.cpp
index 232e732d08..9033a91f05 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Mount/AP_Mount_Backend.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_Mount/AP_Mount_Backend.cpp
@@ -7,24 +7,6 @@ extern const AP_HAL::HAL& hal;
 
 #define AP_MOUNT_UPDATE_DT 0.02     // update rate in seconds.  update() should be called at this rate
 
-// get mount's current attitude in euler angles in degrees.  yaw angle is in body-frame
-// returns true on success
-bool AP_Mount_Backend::get_attitude_euler(float& roll_deg, float& pitch_deg, float& yaw_bf_deg)
-{
-    // by default re-use get_attitude_quaternion and convert to Euler angles
-    Quaternion att_quat;
-    if (!get_attitude_quaternion(att_quat)) {
-        return false;
-    }
-
-    float roll_rad, pitch_rad, yaw_rad;
-    att_quat.to_euler(roll_rad, pitch_rad, yaw_rad);
-    roll_deg = degrees(roll_rad);
-    pitch_deg = degrees(pitch_rad);
-    yaw_bf_deg = degrees(yaw_rad);
-    return true;
-}
-
 // set angle target in degrees
 // yaw_is_earth_frame (aka yaw_lock) should be true if yaw angle is earth-frame, false if body-frame
 void AP_Mount_Backend::set_angle_target(float roll_deg, float pitch_deg, float yaw_deg, bool yaw_is_earth_frame)
diff --git a/libraries/AP_Mount/AP_Mount_Backend.h b/libraries/AP_Mount/AP_Mount_Backend.h
index cdf2dab1de..f433d7aa18 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Mount/AP_Mount_Backend.h
+++ b/libraries/AP_Mount/AP_Mount_Backend.h
@@ -49,9 +49,8 @@ public:
     // returns true if this mount can control its pan (required for multicopters)
     virtual bool has_pan_control() const = 0;
 
-    // get mount's current attitude in euler angles in degrees.  yaw angle is in body-frame
-    // returns true on success
-    bool get_attitude_euler(float& roll_deg, float& pitch_deg, float& yaw_bf_deg);
+    // get attitude as a quaternion.  returns true on success
+    virtual bool get_attitude_quaternion(Quaternion& att_quat) = 0;
 
     // get mount's mode
     enum MAV_MOUNT_MODE get_mode() const { return _mode; }
@@ -155,9 +154,6 @@ protected:
     // returns true if mavlink heartbeat should be suppressed for this gimbal (only used by Solo gimbal)
     virtual bool suppress_heartbeat() const { return false; }
 
-    // get attitude as a quaternion.  returns true on success
-    virtual bool get_attitude_quaternion(Quaternion& att_quat) = 0;
-
     // get pilot input (in the range -1 to +1) received through RC
     void get_rc_input(float& roll_in, float& pitch_in, float& yaw_in) const;