diff --git a/board/safety/safety_nissan.h b/board/safety/safety_nissan.h
index 3810c375..ccb2b9fb 100644
--- a/board/safety/safety_nissan.h
+++ b/board/safety/safety_nissan.h
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ AddrCheckStruct nissan_addr_checks[] = {
 addr_checks nissan_rx_checks = {nissan_addr_checks, NISSAN_ADDR_CHECK_LEN};
 
 // EPS Location. false = V-CAN, true = C-CAN
+const int NISSAN_PARAM_ALT_EPS_BUS = 1;
+
 bool nissan_alt_eps = false;
 
 static int nissan_rx_hook(CANPacket_t *to_push) {
@@ -158,7 +160,7 @@ static int nissan_fwd_hook(int bus_num, int addr) {
 }
 
 static const addr_checks* nissan_init(uint16_t param) {
-  nissan_alt_eps = param ? 1 : 0;
+  nissan_alt_eps = GET_FLAG(param, NISSAN_PARAM_ALT_EPS_BUS);
   return &nissan_rx_checks;
 }
 
diff --git a/python/__init__.py b/python/__init__.py
index 828108d7..e0c2007b 100644
--- a/python/__init__.py
+++ b/python/__init__.py
@@ -237,6 +237,8 @@ class Panda:
   FLAG_SUBARU_GEN2 = 1
   FLAG_SUBARU_LONG = 2
 
+  FLAG_NISSAN_ALT_EPS_BUS = 1
+
   FLAG_GM_HW_CAM = 1
   FLAG_GM_HW_CAM_LONG = 2
 
diff --git a/tests/safety/test_nissan.py b/tests/safety/test_nissan.py
index 5ab519fa..03f88b0d 100755
--- a/tests/safety/test_nissan.py
+++ b/tests/safety/test_nissan.py
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ class TestNissanSafetyAltEpsBus(TestNissanSafety):
   def setUp(self):
     self.packer = CANPackerPanda("nissan_x_trail_2017_generated")
     self.safety = libpanda_py.libpanda
-    self.safety.set_safety_hooks(Panda.SAFETY_NISSAN, 1)
+    self.safety.set_safety_hooks(Panda.SAFETY_NISSAN, Panda.FLAG_NISSAN_ALT_EPS_BUS)
     self.safety.init_tests()