diff --git a/src/sinqAxis.cpp b/src/sinqAxis.cpp
index 560be8c..a443fea 100644
--- a/src/sinqAxis.cpp
+++ b/src/sinqAxis.cpp
@@ -5,32 +5,63 @@
 
 sinqAxis::sinqAxis(class sinqController *pC, int axisNo)
     : asynMotorAxis((asynMotorController *)pC, axisNo), pC_(pC) {
+    asynStatus status = asynSuccess;
 
     initial_poll_ = true;
     watchdogMovActive_ = false;
     init_poll_counter_ = 0;
     scaleMovTimeout_ = 2.0;
     offsetMovTimeout_ = 30;
-}
-
-asynStatus sinqAxis::atFirstPoll() {
-    asynStatus status = asynSuccess;
-    int variableSpeed = 0;
 
     // Motor is assumed to be enabled
     status = pC_->setIntegerParam(axisNo_, pC_->motorEnableRBV_, 1);
     if (status != asynSuccess) {
-        return pC_->paramLibAccessFailed(status, "motorEnableRBV_",
-                                         __PRETTY_FUNCTION__, __LINE__);
+        asynPrint(
+            pC_->pasynUserSelf, ASYN_TRACE_ERROR,
+            "%s => line %d:\nFATAL ERROR (setting a parameter value failed "
+            "with %s)\n. Terminating IOC",
+            __PRETTY_FUNCTION__, __LINE__, pC_->stringifyAsynStatus(status));
+        exit(-1);
     }
 
     // By default, motors cannot be disabled
     status = pC_->setIntegerParam(axisNo_, pC_->motorCanDisable_, 0);
     if (status != asynSuccess) {
-        return pC_->paramLibAccessFailed(status, "motorCanDisable_",
-                                         __PRETTY_FUNCTION__, __LINE__);
+        asynPrint(
+            pC_->pasynUserSelf, ASYN_TRACE_ERROR,
+            "%s => line %d:\nFATAL ERROR (setting a parameter value failed "
+            "with %s)\n. Terminating IOC",
+            __PRETTY_FUNCTION__, __LINE__, pC_->stringifyAsynStatus(status));
+        exit(-1);
     }
 
+    // Provide a default value for the motor position.
+    status = pC_->setDoubleParam(axisNo_, pC_->motorPosition_, 0.0);
+    if (status != asynSuccess) {
+        asynPrint(
+            pC_->pasynUserSelf, ASYN_TRACE_ERROR,
+            "%s => line %d:\nFATAL ERROR (setting a parameter value failed "
+            "with %s)\n. Terminating IOC",
+            __PRETTY_FUNCTION__, __LINE__, pC_->stringifyAsynStatus(status));
+        exit(-1);
+    }
+
+    // We assume that the motor has no status problems initially
+    status = pC_->setIntegerParam(axisNo_, pC_->motorStatusProblem_, 0);
+    if (status != asynSuccess) {
+        asynPrint(
+            pC_->pasynUserSelf, ASYN_TRACE_ERROR,
+            "%s => line %d:\nFATAL ERROR (setting a parameter value failed "
+            "with %s)\n. Terminating IOC",
+            __PRETTY_FUNCTION__, __LINE__, pC_->stringifyAsynStatus(status));
+        exit(-1);
+    }
+}
+
+asynStatus sinqAxis::atFirstPoll() {
+    asynStatus status = asynSuccess;
+    int variableSpeed = 0;
+
     status =
         pC_->getIntegerParam(axisNo_, pC_->motorCanSetSpeed_, &variableSpeed);
     if (status != asynSuccess) {
diff --git a/src/sinqController.cpp b/src/sinqController.cpp
index 67a758f..0a3e469 100644
--- a/src/sinqController.cpp
+++ b/src/sinqController.cpp
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ asynStatus sinqController::errMsgCouldNotParseResponse(const char *command,
     asynStatus pl_status = asynSuccess;
 
     asynPrint(lowLevelPortUser_, ASYN_TRACE_ERROR,
-              "%s => line %d:\nCould not interpret response %s for "
+              "%s => line %d:\nCould not interpret response '%s' for "
               "command %s.\n",
               functionName, lineNumber, response, command);