diff --git a/ArduCopter/defines.h b/ArduCopter/defines.h
index 1cf84ffd0c..9b48c98789 100644
--- a/ArduCopter/defines.h
+++ b/ArduCopter/defines.h
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@
 #define ENABLED			1
 #define DISABLED		0
 
+// this avoids a very common config error
+#define ENABLE ENABLED
+#define DISABLE DISABLED
 
 // Flight modes
 // ------------
diff --git a/ArduPlane/config.h b/ArduPlane/config.h
index 435676d94c..43141cdce6 100644
--- a/ArduPlane/config.h
+++ b/ArduPlane/config.h
@@ -36,6 +36,10 @@
 #define ENABLED			1
 #define DISABLED		0
 
+// this avoids a very common config error
+#define ENABLE ENABLED
+#define DISABLE DISABLED
+
 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 // HARDWARE CONFIGURATION AND CONNECTIONS