diff --git a/libraries/SITL/SITL.cpp b/libraries/SITL/SITL.cpp
index c2be929994..28cd6a46be 100644
--- a/libraries/SITL/SITL.cpp
+++ b/libraries/SITL/SITL.cpp
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ const AP_Param::GroupInfo SITL::var_info[] PROGMEM = {
     AP_GROUPINFO("BARO_DELAY",    38, SITL,  baro_delay, 0),
     AP_GROUPINFO("MAG_DELAY",     39, SITL,  mag_delay, 0),
     AP_GROUPINFO("WIND_DELAY",    40, SITL,  wind_delay, 0),
+    AP_GROUPINFO("MAG_OFS",       41, SITL,  mag_ofs, 0),
     AP_GROUPEND
 };
 
diff --git a/libraries/SITL/SITL.h b/libraries/SITL/SITL.h
index 11f1de26bb..fa592d9802 100644
--- a/libraries/SITL/SITL.h
+++ b/libraries/SITL/SITL.h
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ class SITL
 public:
     
     SITL() {
+        // set a default compass offset
+        mag_ofs.set(Vector3f(5, 13, -18));
         AP_Param::setup_object_defaults(this, var_info);        
     }
 
@@ -59,6 +61,7 @@ public:
 	AP_Float mag_noise;   // in mag units (earth field is 818)
 	AP_Float mag_error;   // in degrees
 	AP_Vector3f mag_mot;  // in mag units per amp
+	AP_Vector3f mag_ofs;  // in mag units
     AP_Float servo_rate;  // servo speed in degrees/second
 
     AP_Float sonar_glitch;// probablility between 0-1 that any given sonar sample will read as max distance