diff --git a/libraries/AP_Hott_Telem/AP_Hott_Telem.cpp b/libraries/AP_Hott_Telem/AP_Hott_Telem.cpp
index 5103013aab..ba1b5353a0 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Hott_Telem/AP_Hott_Telem.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_Hott_Telem/AP_Hott_Telem.cpp
@@ -275,18 +275,7 @@ void AP_Hott_Telem::send_GPS(void)
     msg.vel_east = vel.y * 1000 + 0.5;
     msg.altitude = uint16_t(500.5 + alt);
 
-    switch (gps.status()) {
-    case AP_GPS::NO_GPS:
-    case AP_GPS::NO_FIX:
-        msg.gps_fix_char = '-';
-        break;
-    case AP_GPS::GPS_OK_FIX_2D:
-        msg.gps_fix_char = '2';
-        break;
-    default:
-        msg.gps_fix_char = '3';
-        break;
-    }
+    msg.gps_fix_char = gps.status_onechar();
     msg.free_char3 = msg.gps_fix_char;
 
     msg.home_direction = degrees(atan2f(home_vec.y, home_vec.x)) * 0.5 + 0.5;