diff --git a/src/modules/commander/Commander.cpp b/src/modules/commander/Commander.cpp
index c9682e389c..e4e671e35d 100644
--- a/src/modules/commander/Commander.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/commander/Commander.cpp
@@ -137,27 +137,48 @@ static bool send_vehicle_command(const uint32_t cmd, const float param1 = NAN, c
 				 const double param6 = static_cast<double>(NAN), const float param7 = NAN)
 {
 	vehicle_command_s vcmd{};
-
+	vcmd.command = cmd;
 	vcmd.param1 = param1;
 	vcmd.param2 = param2;
 	vcmd.param3 = param3;
 	vcmd.param4 = param4;
-	vcmd.param5 = (double)param5;
-	vcmd.param6 = (double)param6;
+	vcmd.param5 = param5;
+	vcmd.param6 = param6;
 	vcmd.param7 = param7;
 
-	vcmd.command = cmd;
-
 	uORB::SubscriptionData<vehicle_status_s> vehicle_status_sub{ORB_ID(vehicle_status)};
 	vcmd.source_system = vehicle_status_sub.get().system_id;
 	vcmd.target_system = vehicle_status_sub.get().system_id;
 	vcmd.source_component = vehicle_status_sub.get().component_id;
 	vcmd.target_component = vehicle_status_sub.get().component_id;
 
+	uORB::Publication<vehicle_command_s> vcmd_pub{ORB_ID(vehicle_command)};
 	vcmd.timestamp = hrt_absolute_time();
+	return vcmd_pub.publish(vcmd);
+}
 
-	uORB::Publication<vehicle_command_s> vcmd_pub{ORB_ID(vehicle_command)};
+static bool broadcast_vehicle_command(const uint32_t cmd, const float param1 = NAN, const float param2 = NAN,
+				      const float param3 = NAN,  const float param4 = NAN, const double param5 = static_cast<double>(NAN),
+				      const double param6 = static_cast<double>(NAN), const float param7 = NAN)
+{
+	vehicle_command_s vcmd{};
+	vcmd.command = cmd;
+	vcmd.param1 = param1;
+	vcmd.param2 = param2;
+	vcmd.param3 = param3;
+	vcmd.param4 = param4;
+	vcmd.param5 = param5;
+	vcmd.param6 = param6;
+	vcmd.param7 = param7;
 
+	uORB::SubscriptionData<vehicle_status_s> vehicle_status_sub{ORB_ID(vehicle_status)};
+	vcmd.source_system = vehicle_status_sub.get().system_id;
+	vcmd.target_system = 0;
+	vcmd.source_component = vehicle_status_sub.get().component_id;
+	vcmd.target_component = 0;
+
+	uORB::Publication<vehicle_command_s> vcmd_pub{ORB_ID(vehicle_command)};
+	vcmd.timestamp = hrt_absolute_time();
 	return vcmd_pub.publish(vcmd);
 }
 #endif
@@ -357,6 +378,14 @@ int Commander::custom_command(int argc, char *argv[])
 		return (ret ? 0 : 1);
 	}
 
+	if (!strcmp(argv[0], "pair")) {
+
+		// GCS pairing request handled by a companion
+		bool ret = broadcast_vehicle_command(vehicle_command_s::VEHICLE_CMD_START_RX_PAIR, 10.f);
+
+		return (ret ? 0 : 1);
+	}
+
 	if (!strcmp(argv[0], "set_ekf_origin")) {
 		if (argc > 3) {
 
@@ -3971,6 +4000,7 @@ The commander module contains the state machine for mode switching and failsafe
 	PRINT_MODULE_USAGE_COMMAND_DESCR("mode", "Change flight mode");
 	PRINT_MODULE_USAGE_ARG("manual|acro|offboard|stabilized|altctl|posctl|auto:mission|auto:loiter|auto:rtl|auto:takeoff|auto:land|auto:precland",
 			"Flight mode", false);
+	PRINT_MODULE_USAGE_COMMAND("pair");
 	PRINT_MODULE_USAGE_COMMAND("lockdown");
 	PRINT_MODULE_USAGE_ARG("off", "Turn lockdown off", true);
 	PRINT_MODULE_USAGE_COMMAND("set_ekf_origin");