diff --git a/bec_widgets/applications/tomcat_app/tomcat_app.py b/bec_widgets/applications/tomcat_app/tomcat_app.py
index 9431da1a..24da7405 100644
--- a/bec_widgets/applications/tomcat_app/tomcat_app.py
+++ b/bec_widgets/applications/tomcat_app/tomcat_app.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import os
+import numpy as np
 import pyqtgraph as pg
 import requests
 import sys
@@ -39,6 +40,8 @@ class TomcatApp(QMainWindow, BECWidget):
         self.ui.slider_select.valueChanged.connect(self.select_slice_from_slider)
         self.proxy_slider = pg.SignalProxy(self.select_slice, rateLimit=2, slot=self.send_slice)
 
+        self.image_widget = self.ui.image_widget
+
     def load_ui(self, ui_file):
         loader = UILoader(self)
         self.ui = loader.loader(ui_file)
@@ -87,6 +90,9 @@ def main():  # pragma: no cover
 
     main_window = TomcatApp(client=client)
     main_window.show()
+    main_window.image_widget.image("RecoPreview")
+    # custom_data = np.random.rand(100, 100)
+    # main_window.image_widget._image.add_custom_image("custom", custom_data)
     sys.exit(app.exec_())
 
 
diff --git a/bec_widgets/widgets/containers/figure/plots/image/image.py b/bec_widgets/widgets/containers/figure/plots/image/image.py
index c6eaf05a..8ab5f08b 100644
--- a/bec_widgets/widgets/containers/figure/plots/image/image.py
+++ b/bec_widgets/widgets/containers/figure/plots/image/image.py
@@ -634,7 +634,7 @@ class BECImageShow(BECPlotBase):
             )
             image_item.connected = False
         if monitor and image_item.connected is False:
-            self.entry_validator.validate_monitor(monitor)
+            # self.entry_validator.validate_monitor(monitor)
             if self.image_type == "device_monitor_1d":
                 self.bec_dispatcher.connect_slot(
                     self.on_image_update, MessageEndpoints.device_monitor_1d(monitor)
diff --git a/bec_widgets/widgets/plots/image/image_widget.py b/bec_widgets/widgets/plots/image/image_widget.py
index 47f152c3..506557ed 100644
--- a/bec_widgets/widgets/plots/image/image_widget.py
+++ b/bec_widgets/widgets/plots/image/image_widget.py
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ class BECImageWidget(BECWidget, QWidget):
     ###################################
     # User Access Methods from image
     ###################################
-    @SafeSlot(popup_error=True)
+    @SafeSlot(popup_error=False)
     def image(
         self,
         monitor: str,