diff --git a/EKF/ekf.h b/EKF/ekf.h
index 7b15bd6b68..e075b367ae 100644
--- a/EKF/ekf.h
+++ b/EKF/ekf.h
@@ -196,7 +196,13 @@ public:
 	// and have not started using synthetic position observations to constrain drift
 	bool global_position_is_valid() const
 	{
-		return (_NED_origin_initialised && !_deadreckon_time_exceeded && !_using_synthetic_position);
+		return (_NED_origin_initialised && local_position_is_valid());
+	}
+
+	// return true if the local position estimate is valid
+	bool local_position_is_valid() const
+	{
+		return (!_deadreckon_time_exceeded && !_using_synthetic_position);
 	}
 
 	bool isTerrainEstimateValid() const { return _hagl_valid; };
diff --git a/EKF/estimator_interface.h b/EKF/estimator_interface.h
index 45465477a3..2cd9a0ff67 100644
--- a/EKF/estimator_interface.h
+++ b/EKF/estimator_interface.h
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ public:
 	int getNumberOfActiveHorizontalAidingSources() const;
 
 	// return true if the local position estimate is valid
-	bool local_position_is_valid() const { return !_deadreckon_time_exceeded; }
+	bool local_position_is_valid() const { return local_position_is_valid(); }
 
 	// return true if the EKF is dead reckoning the position using inertial data only
 	bool inertial_dead_reckoning() const { return _is_dead_reckoning; }