diff --git a/libraries/AP_Param/AP_Param.cpp b/libraries/AP_Param/AP_Param.cpp
index 3ae155c8b4..e5e97d2f11 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Param/AP_Param.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_Param/AP_Param.cpp
@@ -825,7 +825,7 @@ AP_Param::find_group(const char *name, uint16_t vindex, ptrdiff_t group_offset,
 // Find a variable by name.
 //
 AP_Param *
-AP_Param::find(const char *name, enum ap_var_type *ptype)
+AP_Param::find(const char *name, enum ap_var_type *ptype, uint16_t *flags)
 {
     for (uint16_t i=0; i<_num_vars; i++) {
         uint8_t type = _var_info[i].type;
@@ -840,6 +840,9 @@ AP_Param::find(const char *name, enum ap_var_type *ptype)
             }
             AP_Param *ap = find_group(name + len, i, 0, group_info, ptype);
             if (ap != nullptr) {
+                if (flags != nullptr) {
+                    *flags = group_info->flags;
+                }
                 return ap;
             }
             // we continue looking as we want to allow top level
diff --git a/libraries/AP_Param/AP_Param.h b/libraries/AP_Param/AP_Param.h
index 58e4d5b565..67ae8d5f76 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Param/AP_Param.h
+++ b/libraries/AP_Param/AP_Param.h
@@ -252,10 +252,11 @@ public:
     /// If the variable has no name, it cannot be found by this interface.
     ///
     /// @param  name            The full name of the variable to be found.
+    /// @param  flags           If non-null will be filled with parameter flags
     /// @return                 A pointer to the variable, or nullptr if
     ///                         it does not exist.
     ///
-    static AP_Param * find(const char *name, enum ap_var_type *ptype);
+    static AP_Param * find(const char *name, enum ap_var_type *ptype, uint16_t *flags = nullptr);
 
     /// set a default value by name
     ///