diff --git a/libraries/AP_InertialSensor/AP_InertialSensor_Backend.h b/libraries/AP_InertialSensor/AP_InertialSensor_Backend.h
index e3ba9b6efb..7189cad0e6 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_InertialSensor/AP_InertialSensor_Backend.h
+++ b/libraries/AP_InertialSensor/AP_InertialSensor_Backend.h
@@ -183,22 +183,24 @@ protected:
     // set accelerometer max absolute offset for calibration
     void _set_accel_max_abs_offset(uint8_t instance, float offset);
 
-    // get accelerometer raw sample rate
-    uint32_t _accel_raw_sample_rate(uint8_t instance) const {
+    // get accelerometer raw sample rate.
+    float _accel_raw_sample_rate(uint8_t instance) const {
         return _imu._accel_raw_sample_rates[instance];
     }
 
-    // set accelerometer raw sample rate
+    // set accelerometer raw sample rate;  note that the storage type
+    // is actually float!
     void _set_accel_raw_sample_rate(uint8_t instance, uint16_t rate_hz) {
         _imu._accel_raw_sample_rates[instance] = rate_hz;
     }
     
     // get gyroscope raw sample rate
-    uint32_t _gyro_raw_sample_rate(uint8_t instance) const {
+    float _gyro_raw_sample_rate(uint8_t instance) const {
         return _imu._gyro_raw_sample_rates[instance];
     }
 
-    // set gyro raw sample rate
+    // set gyro raw sample rate; note that the storage type is
+    // actually float!
     void _set_gyro_raw_sample_rate(uint8_t instance, uint16_t rate_hz) {
         _imu._gyro_raw_sample_rates[instance] = rate_hz;
     }