diff --git a/libraries/AP_AHRS/AP_AHRS_NavEKF.cpp b/libraries/AP_AHRS/AP_AHRS_NavEKF.cpp
index bc680ff6ed..7783fc3173 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_AHRS/AP_AHRS_NavEKF.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_AHRS/AP_AHRS_NavEKF.cpp
@@ -300,25 +300,28 @@ void AP_AHRS_NavEKF::update_SITL(void)
         _accel_ef_ekf_blended = _accel_ef_ekf[0];
 
     }
-    // use SITL states to write body frame odometry data at 20Hz
-    uint32_t timeStamp_ms = AP_HAL::millis();
-    if (timeStamp_ms - _last_body_odm_update_ms > 50) {
-        const float quality = 100.0f;
-        const Vector3f posOffset = Vector3f(0.0f,0.0f,0.0f);
-        float delTime = 0.001f*(timeStamp_ms - _last_body_odm_update_ms);
-        _last_body_odm_update_ms = timeStamp_ms;
-        timeStamp_ms -= (timeStamp_ms - _last_body_odm_update_ms)/2; // correct for first order hold average delay
-        Vector3f delAng = Vector3f(radians(fdm.rollRate),
-                                   radians(fdm.pitchRate),
-                                   radians(fdm.yawRate));
-        delAng *= delTime;
-        // rotate earth velocity into body frame and calculate delta position
-        Matrix3f Tbn;
-        Tbn.from_euler(radians(fdm.rollDeg),radians(fdm.pitchDeg),radians(fdm.yawDeg));
-        Vector3f earth_vel = Vector3f(fdm.speedN,fdm.speedE,fdm.speedD);
-        Vector3f delPos = Tbn.transposed() * (earth_vel * delTime);
-        // write to EKF
-        EKF3.writeBodyFrameOdom(quality, delPos, delAng, delTime, timeStamp_ms, posOffset);
+
+    if (_sitl->odom_enable) {
+        // use SITL states to write body frame odometry data at 20Hz
+        uint32_t timeStamp_ms = AP_HAL::millis();
+        if (timeStamp_ms - _last_body_odm_update_ms > 50) {
+            const float quality = 100.0f;
+            const Vector3f posOffset = Vector3f(0.0f,0.0f,0.0f);
+            float delTime = 0.001f*(timeStamp_ms - _last_body_odm_update_ms);
+            _last_body_odm_update_ms = timeStamp_ms;
+            timeStamp_ms -= (timeStamp_ms - _last_body_odm_update_ms)/2; // correct for first order hold average delay
+            Vector3f delAng = Vector3f(radians(fdm.rollRate),
+                                       radians(fdm.pitchRate),
+                                       radians(fdm.yawRate));
+            delAng *= delTime;
+            // rotate earth velocity into body frame and calculate delta position
+            Matrix3f Tbn;
+            Tbn.from_euler(radians(fdm.rollDeg),radians(fdm.pitchDeg),radians(fdm.yawDeg));
+            Vector3f earth_vel = Vector3f(fdm.speedN,fdm.speedE,fdm.speedD);
+            Vector3f delPos = Tbn.transposed() * (earth_vel * delTime);
+            // write to EKF
+            EKF3.writeBodyFrameOdom(quality, delPos, delAng, delTime, timeStamp_ms, posOffset);
+        }
     }
 }
 #endif // CONFIG_HAL_BOARD