diff --git a/csaxs_bec/devices/smaract/smaract_controller.py b/csaxs_bec/devices/smaract/smaract_controller.py
index c0123f7..5eca450 100644
--- a/csaxs_bec/devices/smaract/smaract_controller.py
+++ b/csaxs_bec/devices/smaract/smaract_controller.py
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ class SmaractController(Controller):
     def get_communication_mode(self) -> SmaractCommunicationMode:
         return_val = self.socket_put_and_receive("GCM")
         if self._message_starts_with(return_val, f":CM"):
-            return SmaractCommunicationMode(int(return_val.strip(":CM")))
+            return SmaractCommunicationMode(int(return_val.removeprefix(":CM")))
 
     @retry_once
     @axis_checked
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ class SmaractController(Controller):
         """
         return_val = self.socket_put_and_receive("GIV")
         if self._message_starts_with(return_val, f":IV"):
-            return return_val.strip(":IV")
+            return return_val.removeprefix(":IV")
 
     @retry_once
     def get_number_of_channels(self) -> int:
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@ class SmaractController(Controller):
         """
         return_val = self.socket_put_and_receive("GNC")
         if self._message_starts_with(return_val, f":N"):
-            return int(return_val.strip(":N"))
+            return int(return_val.removeprefix(":N"))
 
     @retry_once
     def get_system_id(self) -> str:
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ class SmaractController(Controller):
         """
         return_val = self.socket_put_and_receive("GSI")
         if self._message_starts_with(return_val, f":ID"):
-            return return_val.strip(":ID")
+            return return_val.removeprefix(":ID")
 
     @retry_once
     def reset(self) -> None:
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ class SmaractController(Controller):
         if self._message_starts_with(return_val, f":GPL{axis_Id_numeric}"):
             return [
                 float(limit) / 1e6
-                for limit in return_val.strip(f":GPL{axis_Id_numeric},").split(",")
+                for limit in return_val.removeprefix(f":GPL{axis_Id_numeric},").split(",")
             ]
 
     @retry_once
@@ -376,7 +376,9 @@ class SmaractController(Controller):
     def get_sensor_type(self, axis_Id_numeric: int) -> SmaractSensorDefinition:
         return_val = self.socket_put_and_receive(f"GST{axis_Id_numeric}")
         if self._message_starts_with(return_val, f":ST{axis_Id_numeric}"):
-            return self._sensors.avail_sensors.get(int(return_val.strip(f":ST{axis_Id_numeric},")))
+            return self._sensors.avail_sensors.get(
+                int(return_val.removeprefix(f":ST{axis_Id_numeric},"))
+            )
 
     @retry_once
     @axis_checked
@@ -419,7 +421,7 @@ class SmaractController(Controller):
 
         return_val = self.socket_put_and_receive(f"GCLS{axis_Id_numeric}")
         if self._message_starts_with(return_val, f":CLS{axis_Id_numeric}"):
-            return float(return_val.strip(f":CLS{axis_Id_numeric},")) * 1e6
+            return float(return_val.removeprefix(f":CLS{axis_Id_numeric},")) * 1e6
 
     def describe(self) -> None:
         t = PrettyTable()