diff --git a/selfdrive/selfdrived/selfdrived.py b/selfdrive/selfdrived/selfdrived.py
index dfda2c31f..07914f90d 100755
--- a/selfdrive/selfdrived/selfdrived.py
+++ b/selfdrive/selfdrived/selfdrived.py
@@ -135,7 +135,8 @@ class SelfdriveD(CruiseHelper):
     self.ignored_processes.update({'mapd'})
 
     # Determine startup event
-    self.startup_event = EventName.startup if build_metadata.openpilot.comma_remote and build_metadata.tested_channel else EventName.startupMaster
+    is_remote = build_metadata.openpilot.comma_remote or build_metadata.openpilot.sunnypilot_remote
+    self.startup_event = EventName.startup if is_remote and build_metadata.tested_channel else EventName.startupMaster
     if not car_recognized:
       self.startup_event = EventName.startupNoCar
     elif car_recognized and self.CP.passive:
diff --git a/system/version.py b/system/version.py
index 6e4d0fb42..73200473f 100755
--- a/system/version.py
+++ b/system/version.py
@@ -83,6 +83,10 @@ class OpenpilotMetadata:
     # touch this to get rid of the orange startup alert. there's better ways to do that
     return self.git_normalized_origin == "github.com/commaai/openpilot"
 
+  @property
+  def sunnypilot_remote(self) -> bool:
+    return self.git_normalized_origin == "github.com/sunnypilot/sunnypilot"
+
   @property
   def git_normalized_origin(self) -> str:
     return self.git_origin \