diff --git a/libraries/AP_HAL/AP_HAL_Boards.h b/libraries/AP_HAL/AP_HAL_Boards.h
index 04449b1690..37cc292297 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_HAL/AP_HAL_Boards.h
+++ b/libraries/AP_HAL/AP_HAL_Boards.h
@@ -409,3 +409,7 @@
 #ifndef HAL_REBOOT_ON_MEMORY_ERRORS
 #define HAL_REBOOT_ON_MEMORY_ERRORS defined(IOMCU_FW)
 #endif
+
+#ifndef AP_CPU_IDLE_STATS_ENABLED
+#define AP_CPU_IDLE_STATS_ENABLED 0
+#endif
diff --git a/libraries/AP_HAL/Util.h b/libraries/AP_HAL/Util.h
index e20dcd55a0..9f3de509ca 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_HAL/Util.h
+++ b/libraries/AP_HAL/Util.h
@@ -195,6 +195,9 @@ public:
     virtual void* last_crash_dump_ptr() const { return nullptr; }
 #endif
 
+    // get the system load
+    virtual bool get_system_load(float& avg_load, float& peak_load) const { return false; }
+
 #if HAL_ENABLE_DFU_BOOT
     virtual void boot_to_dfu(void) {}
 #endif
diff --git a/libraries/AP_HAL/board/chibios.h b/libraries/AP_HAL/board/chibios.h
index 60f2c928b0..e7042562f0 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_HAL/board/chibios.h
+++ b/libraries/AP_HAL/board/chibios.h
@@ -175,3 +175,7 @@
 #ifndef AP_BOARDCONFIG_MCU_MEMPROTECT_ENABLED
 #define AP_BOARDCONFIG_MCU_MEMPROTECT_ENABLED 0
 #endif  // AP_BOARDCONFIG_MCU_MEMPROTECT_ENABLED
+
+#ifndef AP_CPU_IDLE_STATS_ENABLED
+#define AP_CPU_IDLE_STATS_ENABLED BOARD_FLASH_SIZE > 1024
+#endif