diff --git a/src/drivers/magnetometer/ak09916/ak09916.cpp b/src/drivers/magnetometer/ak09916/ak09916.cpp
index ed4ca4a1022f..413a8b91a547 100644
--- a/src/drivers/magnetometer/ak09916/ak09916.cpp
+++ b/src/drivers/magnetometer/ak09916/ak09916.cpp
@@ -252,6 +252,7 @@ AK09916::measure()
 		}
 
 		_px4_mag.set_error_count(perf_event_count(_mag_errors));
+		_px4_mag.set_external(external());
 		_px4_mag.update(timestamp_sample, raw_data.x, raw_data.y, raw_data.z);
 	}
 }