diff --git a/ophyd_devices/interfaces/base_classes/psi_detector_base.py b/ophyd_devices/interfaces/base_classes/psi_detector_base.py
index 816be92..6f643db 100644
--- a/ophyd_devices/interfaces/base_classes/psi_detector_base.py
+++ b/ophyd_devices/interfaces/base_classes/psi_detector_base.py
@@ -219,11 +219,17 @@ class PSIDetectorBase(Device):
         self.scaninfo.load_scan_metadata()
 
     def _update_service_config(self) -> None:
-        """Update service config from BEC service config"""
+        """Update service config from BEC service config
+
+        If bec services are not running and SERVICE_CONFIG is NONE, we fall back to the current directory.
+        """
         # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel
         from bec_lib.bec_service import SERVICE_CONFIG
 
-        self.service_cfg = SERVICE_CONFIG.config["service_config"]["file_writer"]
+        if SERVICE_CONFIG:
+            self.service_cfg = SERVICE_CONFIG.config["service_config"]["file_writer"]
+            return
+        self.service_cfg = {"base_path": os.path.abspath(".")}
 
     def check_scan_id(self) -> None:
         """Checks if scan_id has changed and set stopped flagged to True if it has."""
diff --git a/tests/test_simulation.py b/tests/test_simulation.py
index 570ab8a..185b847 100644
--- a/tests/test_simulation.py
+++ b/tests/test_simulation.py
@@ -43,20 +43,10 @@ def monitor(name="monitor"):
 def camera(name="camera"):
     """Fixture for SimCamera."""
     dm = DMMock()
-    with (
-        mock.patch(
-            "ophyd_devices.interfaces.base_classes.psi_detector_base.PSIDetectorBase._update_service_config",
-            mock.MagicMock(),
-        ) as mock_update_service_config,
-        mock.patch(
-            "ophyd_devices.interfaces.base_classes.psi_detector_base.PSIDetectorBase._update_filewriter",
-            mock.MagicMock(),
-        ) as mock_update_filewriter,
-    ):
-        cam = SimCamera(name=name, device_manager=dm)
-        cam.filewriter = mock.MagicMock()
-        cam.filewriter.compile_full_filename.return_value = ""
-        yield cam
+    cam = SimCamera(name=name, device_manager=dm)
+    cam.filewriter = mock.MagicMock()
+    cam.filewriter.compile_full_filename.return_value = ""
+    yield cam
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="function")