diff --git a/libraries/AP_Terrain/AP_Terrain.cpp b/libraries/AP_Terrain/AP_Terrain.cpp
index f4cb15e884..5474e0c8a4 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Terrain/AP_Terrain.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_Terrain/AP_Terrain.cpp
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@
 
 extern const AP_HAL::HAL& hal;
 
+AP_Terrain *AP_Terrain::singleton;
+
 // table of user settable parameters
 const AP_Param::GroupInfo AP_Terrain::var_info[] = {
     // @Param: ENABLE
@@ -62,6 +64,13 @@ AP_Terrain::AP_Terrain(const AP_Mission &_mission) :
     fd(-1)
 {
     AP_Param::setup_object_defaults(this, var_info);
+
+#if CONFIG_HAL_BOARD == HAL_BOARD_SITL
+    if (singleton != nullptr) {
+        AP_HAL::panic("Terrain must be singleton");
+    }
+#endif
+    singleton = this;
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/libraries/AP_Terrain/AP_Terrain.h b/libraries/AP_Terrain/AP_Terrain.h
index 2e5173a3d6..10135e4994 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Terrain/AP_Terrain.h
+++ b/libraries/AP_Terrain/AP_Terrain.h
@@ -82,6 +82,8 @@ public:
     AP_Terrain(const AP_Terrain &other) = delete;
     AP_Terrain &operator=(const AP_Terrain&) = delete;
 
+    static AP_Terrain *get_singleton(void) { return singleton; }
+
     enum TerrainStatus {
         TerrainStatusDisabled  = 0, // not enabled
         TerrainStatusUnhealthy = 1, // no terrain data for current location
@@ -413,5 +415,7 @@ private:
 
     // status
     enum TerrainStatus system_status = TerrainStatusDisabled;
+
+    static AP_Terrain *singleton;
 };
 #endif // AP_TERRAIN_AVAILABLE