diff --git a/src/modules/navigator/rtl_direct.cpp b/src/modules/navigator/rtl_direct.cpp
index 7050abacd7..b28d7976af 100644
--- a/src/modules/navigator/rtl_direct.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/navigator/rtl_direct.cpp
@@ -300,6 +300,9 @@ void RtlDirect::set_rtl_item()
 				/* Set the altitude tracking to best effort but not strictly enforce it */
 				altitude_acceptance_radius = FLT_MAX;
 
+				if (_force_heading) {
+					_mission_item.force_heading = true;
+				}
 			}
 
 			break;