diff --git a/cmake/configs/posix_sitl_simple.cmake b/cmake/configs/posix_sitl_simple.cmake
index b0a8158070..581b82e827 100644
--- a/cmake/configs/posix_sitl_simple.cmake
+++ b/cmake/configs/posix_sitl_simple.cmake
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ set(config_module_list
 	modules/ekf_att_pos_estimator
 	modules/position_estimator_inav
 	modules/navigator
+	modules/vtol_att_control
 	modules/mc_pos_control
 	modules/mc_att_control
 	modules/mc_pos_control_multiplatform
diff --git a/src/modules/vtol_att_control/vtol_att_control_main.h b/src/modules/vtol_att_control/vtol_att_control_main.h
index 36c06a39ad..90d93823fc 100644
--- a/src/modules/vtol_att_control/vtol_att_control_main.h
+++ b/src/modules/vtol_att_control/vtol_att_control_main.h
@@ -190,7 +190,6 @@ private:
 	/* for multicopters it is usual to have a non-zero idle speed of the engines
 	 * for fixed wings we want to have an idle speed of zero since we do not want
 	 * to waste energy when gliding. */
-	unsigned _motor_count;	// number of motors
 	float _airspeed_tot;
 	int _transition_command;