diff --git a/conf/firmwares/subsystems/rotorcraft/fdm_jsbsim.makefile b/conf/firmwares/subsystems/rotorcraft/fdm_jsbsim.makefile
index d47ecef19a..985f80a937 100644
--- a/conf/firmwares/subsystems/rotorcraft/fdm_jsbsim.makefile
+++ b/conf/firmwares/subsystems/rotorcraft/fdm_jsbsim.makefile
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ nps.srcs += $(NPSDIR)/nps_main.c                      \
 
 
 
-nps.CFLAGS += -DBOARD_CONFIG=$(BOARD_CFG)
+nps.CFLAGS += -DBOARD_CONFIG=$(BOARD_CFG) -DPERIPHERALS_AUTO_INIT
 
 nps.srcs   += firmwares/rotorcraft/main.c
 nps.srcs   += mcu.c
diff --git a/sw/airborne/mcu.c b/sw/airborne/mcu.c
index 6beb1849b6..6e085bf545 100644
--- a/sw/airborne/mcu.c
+++ b/sw/airborne/mcu.c
@@ -141,6 +141,8 @@ void mcu_init(void) {
 #ifdef USE_DAC
   dac_init();
 #endif
+#else
+#pragma message "Info: Not auto-initializing mcu peripherals including sys_time"
 #endif /* PERIPHERALS_AUTO_INIT */
 
 }
diff --git a/sw/simulator/nps/nps_main.c b/sw/simulator/nps/nps_main.c
index 7df7b3b180..a740eb15e0 100644
--- a/sw/simulator/nps/nps_main.c
+++ b/sw/simulator/nps/nps_main.c
@@ -122,6 +122,7 @@ static void nps_main_init(void) {
   nps_ivy_init(nps_main.ivy_bus);
   nps_fdm_init(SIM_DT);
   nps_sensors_init(nps_main.sim_time);
+  printf("Simulating with dt of %f\n", SIM_DT);
 
   enum NpsRadioControlType rc_type;
   char* rc_dev = NULL;