diff --git a/libraries/AP_BattMonitor/AP_BattMonitor_TIBQ76952.cpp b/libraries/AP_BattMonitor/AP_BattMonitor_TIBQ76952.cpp
index fbb99cf1b98..0b36b721522 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_BattMonitor/AP_BattMonitor_TIBQ76952.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_BattMonitor/AP_BattMonitor_TIBQ76952.cpp
@@ -721,10 +721,10 @@ bool AP_BattMonitor_TIBQ76952::configure()
     hal.scheduler->delay(10);
 
     // clear any remaining permanent failure alerts
-    direct_command(TIBQ769x2_PFAlertA, 0xFF, CommandType::WRITE);
-    direct_command(TIBQ769x2_PFAlertB, 0xFF, CommandType::WRITE);
-    direct_command(TIBQ769x2_PFAlertC, 0xFF, CommandType::WRITE);
-    direct_command(TIBQ769x2_PFAlertD, 0xFF, CommandType::WRITE);
+    direct_command_write_1byte(TIBQ769x2_PFAlertA, 0xFF);
+    direct_command_write_1byte(TIBQ769x2_PFAlertB, 0xFF);
+    direct_command_write_1byte(TIBQ769x2_PFAlertC, 0xFF);
+    direct_command_write_1byte(TIBQ769x2_PFAlertD, 0xFF);
 
     // update configuration
     ConfigUpdateType update_type = (ConfigUpdateType)cfg_update.get();
@@ -992,6 +992,12 @@ uint16_t AP_BattMonitor_TIBQ76952::direct_command_read_2bytes(uint16_t reg) cons
     return 0;
 }
 
+// send a direct command to write 1byte
+bool AP_BattMonitor_TIBQ76952::direct_command_write_1byte(uint16_t reg, uint8_t data) const
+{
+    return write_register(reg, &data, 1);
+}
+
 // write 1, 2, or 4 bytes to a RAM data memory register (0x9xxx addresses)
 // this includes delays so it should only be called during startup configuration
 // uses subcommand protocol: write address+data to 0x3E, then checksum+length to 0x60
diff --git a/libraries/AP_BattMonitor/AP_BattMonitor_TIBQ76952.h b/libraries/AP_BattMonitor/AP_BattMonitor_TIBQ76952.h
index 84cb6c78842..b0940f18b55 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_BattMonitor/AP_BattMonitor_TIBQ76952.h
+++ b/libraries/AP_BattMonitor/AP_BattMonitor_TIBQ76952.h
@@ -82,6 +82,9 @@ protected:
     uint8_t direct_command_read_1byte(uint16_t reg) const;
     uint16_t direct_command_read_2bytes(uint16_t reg) const;
 
+    // send a direct command to write 1byte
+    bool direct_command_write_1byte(uint16_t reg, uint8_t data) const;
+
     // write 1, 2, or 4 bytes to a RAM data memory register (0x9xxx addresses)
     // this includes delays so it should only be called during startup configuration
     void set_register(uint16_t reg_addr, uint32_t reg_data, uint8_t len) const;