diff --git a/libraries/DataFlash/DataFlash_Backend.h b/libraries/DataFlash/DataFlash_Backend.h
index ea10ee4ed34..560e41f20ce 100644
--- a/libraries/DataFlash/DataFlash_Backend.h
+++ b/libraries/DataFlash/DataFlash_Backend.h
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ public:
     virtual void ShowDeviceInfo(AP_HAL::BetterStream *port) = 0;
     virtual void ListAvailableLogs(AP_HAL::BetterStream *port) = 0;
 
-    virtual bool logging_started(void) const { return log_write_started; }
+    virtual bool logging_started(void) const = 0;
 
     virtual void Init() { }
 
@@ -62,7 +62,6 @@ public:
     virtual void PrepForArming() { }
 
     virtual uint16_t start_new_log(void) = 0;
-    bool log_write_started;
 
     /* stop logging - close output files etc etc.
      *
diff --git a/libraries/DataFlash/DataFlash_File.cpp b/libraries/DataFlash/DataFlash_File.cpp
index cbdc6933d23..77ed5aa643c 100644
--- a/libraries/DataFlash/DataFlash_File.cpp
+++ b/libraries/DataFlash/DataFlash_File.cpp
@@ -830,7 +830,6 @@ void DataFlash_File::stop_logging(void)
     if (_write_fd != -1) {
         int fd = _write_fd;
         _write_fd = -1;
-        log_write_started = false;
         ::close(fd);
     }
 }
@@ -899,7 +898,6 @@ uint16_t DataFlash_File::start_new_log(void)
     free(fname);
     _write_offset = 0;
     _writebuf.clear();
-    log_write_started = true;
 
     // now update lastlog.txt with the new log number
     fname = _lastlog_file_name();
diff --git a/libraries/DataFlash/DataFlash_File.h b/libraries/DataFlash/DataFlash_File.h
index e8f24f25ef6..83a39daaa2a 100644
--- a/libraries/DataFlash/DataFlash_File.h
+++ b/libraries/DataFlash/DataFlash_File.h
@@ -71,6 +71,8 @@ public:
     bool logging_enabled() const override;
     bool logging_failed() const override;
 
+    bool logging_started(void) const override { return _write_fd != -1; }
+
     void vehicle_was_disarmed() override;
 
     virtual void PrepForArming() override;