diff --git a/libraries/AP_DCM/AP_DCM.cpp b/libraries/AP_DCM/AP_DCM.cpp
index e913adfe1c..513001b0d6 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_DCM/AP_DCM.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_DCM/AP_DCM.cpp
@@ -188,6 +188,26 @@ AP_DCM::accel_adjust(void)
 	_accel_vector -= temp;
 }
 
+/*
+  reset the DCM matrix and omega. Used on ground start, and on
+  extreme errors in the matrix
+ */
+void
+AP_DCM::matrix_reset(void)
+{
+	_dcm_matrix.a.x = 1.0f;
+	_dcm_matrix.a.y = 0.0f;
+	_dcm_matrix.a.z = 0.0f;
+	_dcm_matrix.b.x = 0.0f;
+	_dcm_matrix.b.y = 1.0f;
+	_dcm_matrix.b.z = 0.0f;
+	_dcm_matrix.c.x = 0.0f;
+	_dcm_matrix.c.y = 0.0f;
+	_dcm_matrix.c.z = 1.0f;
+	_omega_I.x = 0.0f;
+	_omega_I.y = 0.0f;
+	_omega_I.z = 0.0f;
+}
 
 /*************************************************
 Direction Cosine Matrix IMU: Theory
@@ -221,18 +241,7 @@ AP_DCM::normalize(void)
 	_dcm_matrix.c = renorm(temporary[2], problem);
 
 	if (problem == 1) {		// Our solution is blowing up and we will force back to initial condition.	Hope we are not upside down!
-		_dcm_matrix.a.x = 1.0f;
-		_dcm_matrix.a.y = 0.0f;
-		_dcm_matrix.a.z = 0.0f;
-		_dcm_matrix.b.x = 0.0f;
-		_dcm_matrix.b.y = 1.0f;
-		_dcm_matrix.b.z = 0.0f;
-		_dcm_matrix.c.x = 0.0f;
-		_dcm_matrix.c.y = 0.0f;
-		_dcm_matrix.c.z = 1.0f;
-		_omega_I.x = 0.0f;
-		_omega_I.y = 0.0f;
-		_omega_I.z = 0.0f;
+		matrix_reset();
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/libraries/AP_DCM/AP_DCM.h b/libraries/AP_DCM/AP_DCM.h
index 0320539e69..e3a6a89950 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_DCM/AP_DCM.h
+++ b/libraries/AP_DCM/AP_DCM.h
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ public:
 	// Methods
 	void 		update_DCM(void);
 	void 		update_DCM_fast(void);
+	void 		matrix_reset(void);
 
 	long		roll_sensor;					// Degrees * 100
 	long		pitch_sensor;					// Degrees * 100