diff --git a/src/drivers/px4io/px4io.cpp b/src/drivers/px4io/px4io.cpp
index 8e990aa6f0..82f3ba044a 100644
--- a/src/drivers/px4io/px4io.cpp
+++ b/src/drivers/px4io/px4io.cpp
@@ -1332,12 +1332,15 @@ PX4IO::io_handle_battery(uint16_t vbatt, uint16_t ibatt)
 	battery_status.discharged_mah = _battery_mamphour_total;
 	_battery_last_timestamp = battery_status.timestamp;
 
-	/* lazily publish the battery voltage */
-	if (_to_battery > 0) {
-		orb_publish(ORB_ID(battery_status), _to_battery, &battery_status);
+	/* the announced battery status would conflict with the simulated battery status in HIL */
+	if (!(_pub_blocked)) {
+		/* lazily publish the battery voltage */
+		if (_to_battery > 0) {
+			orb_publish(ORB_ID(battery_status), _to_battery, &battery_status);
 
-	} else {
-		_to_battery = orb_advertise(ORB_ID(battery_status), &battery_status);
+		} else {
+			_to_battery = orb_advertise(ORB_ID(battery_status), &battery_status);
+		}
 	}
 }
 
@@ -1959,8 +1962,7 @@ PX4IO::print_status()
 }
 
 int
-PX4IO::ioctl(file * /*filep*/, int cmd, unsigned long arg)
-/* Make it obvious that file * isn't used here */
+PX4IO::ioctl(file * filep, int cmd, unsigned long arg)
 {
 	int ret = OK;
 
@@ -2372,8 +2374,9 @@ PX4IO::ioctl(file * /*filep*/, int cmd, unsigned long arg)
 		break;
 
 	default:
-		/* not a recognized value */
-		ret = -ENOTTY;
+		/* see if the parent class can make any use of it */
+		ret = CDev::ioctl(filep, cmd, arg);
+		break;
 	}
 
 	return ret;