diff --git a/src/main/blackbox/blackbox_io.c b/src/main/blackbox/blackbox_io.c
index 36a9750be84..b344b0dfff6 100644
--- a/src/main/blackbox/blackbox_io.c
+++ b/src/main/blackbox/blackbox_io.c
@@ -583,6 +583,10 @@ bool isBlackboxDeviceWorking(void)
 #ifdef USE_FLASHFS
         case BLACKBOX_DEVICE_FLASH:
             return flashfsIsReady();
+#endif
+#if defined(SITL_BUILD)
+        case BLACKBOX_DEVICE_FILE:
+            return blackboxFile.file_handler != NULL;
 #endif
     default:
         return false;