diff --git a/commands.py b/commands.py
index 8a97dc1..372478b 100644
--- a/commands.py
+++ b/commands.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ from nicos.utils import printTable
 from nicos.commands import helparglist, usercommand
 from nicos.commands.basic import AddSetup, CreateAllDevices, CreateDevice
 from nicos.devices.secop import get_attaching_devices
+from nicos_sinq.frappy_sinq.devices import applyAliasConfig
 
 home = expanduser('~')
 if home not in sys.path:
@@ -68,8 +69,9 @@ def all_info(all_cfg):
 def frappy_start(service, cfg=None):
     if service not in SERVICES:
         raise ValueError('unknown service %s' % service)
-    frappy_config = session.devices['frappy_config']
-    frappy_config.remove_aliases()
+    frappy_config = session.devices.get('frappy_config')
+    # if frappy_config():
+    #    frappy_config.remove_aliases()
     if cfg == '':
         seaconn = session.devices.get('seaconn')
         if seaconn and seaconn._attached_secnode:
@@ -108,7 +110,10 @@ def frappy_start(service, cfg=None):
     if cfg is not None:
         cleanup_defunct()
         CreateAllDevices()
-        frappy_config.set_envlist()
+        if frappy_config:
+            frappy_config.set_envlist()
+        else:
+            applyAliasConfig()
         if startnode and cfg == '':
             startnode.disable()
     return all_cfg
diff --git a/devices.py b/devices.py
index e113c20..8e06745 100644
--- a/devices.py
+++ b/devices.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ import os
 from os.path import expanduser
 
 from nicos import config, session
-from nicos.core import Override, Param, Moveable, status
+from nicos.core import Override, Param, Moveable, status, UsageError
 from nicos.devices.secop import SecNodeDevice
 from nicos.core import Device, anytype, listof
 from nicos.utils.comparestrings import compare
@@ -87,12 +87,15 @@ class FrappyConfig(Device):
         'rotation_z': Param(
             'config for sample rotation', type=anytype,
             default={'alias': 'stickrot', 'envlist': False}),
+        'stick_rotation_alias': Param(
+            'alias to assign stick rotation', type=str, settable=True, default=''),
         'nodes': Param(
             'list of names of potential SEC nodes', type=listof(str), default=[]),
     }
 
     meanings = list(parameters)
     meanings.remove('nodes')
+    meanings.remove('assign_stick_rotation')
 
     def remove_aliases(self):
         for meaning in self.meanings:
@@ -107,12 +110,25 @@ class FrappyConfig(Device):
                 session.configured_devices.pop(aliasname, None)
                 session.dynamic_devices.pop(aliasname, None)
 
+    def get_se_aliases(self):
+        result = {}
+        for meaning in self.meanings:
+            info = getattr(self, meaning)
+            aliasnames = info['alias']
+            if isinstance(aliasname, str):
+                aliasnames = [aliasnames]
+            for aliasname in aliasnames:
+                aliasdev = session.devices.get(aliasname)
+                if aliasdev:
+                    result[aliasname] = aliasdev
+
     def set_envlist(self):
         """create aliases for SECoP devices
 
         depending on their meaning
         """
-        self.remove_aliases()
+        previous_aliases = self.get_se_aliases()
+        # self.remove_aliases()
 
         nodedevs = filter(None, [session.devices.get(devname) for devname in self.nodes])
         sample_devices = {}
@@ -157,11 +173,15 @@ class FrappyConfig(Device):
                     continue
                 if dev:
                     for aliasname in aliasnames:
-                        session.log.debug('create alias %r pointing to %r', aliasname, devname)
-                        devcfg = ('nicos.core.DeviceAlias', {})
                         session.configured_devices[aliasname] = devcfg
                         session.dynamic_devices[aliasname] = 'frappy'
-                        aliasdev = session.createDevice(aliasname, recreate=True, explicit=True)
+                        aliasdev = previous_aliases.pop(aliasname, None)
+                        if aliasdev:
+                            session.log.debug('change alias %r -> %r', aliasname, devname)
+                        else:
+                            session.log.debug('create alias %r -> %r', aliasname, devname)
+                            devcfg = ('nicos.core.DeviceAlias', {})
+                            aliasdev = session.createDevice(aliasname, recreate=True, explicit=True)
                         aliasdev.alias = devname
                     aliasname = aliasnames[0]
                     if devname not in devset and envlistflag:
@@ -175,6 +195,11 @@ class FrappyConfig(Device):
                 for aliasname in aliasnames:
                     newenv.pop(aliasname, None)
 
+        for aliasname in previous_aliases:
+            session.destroyDevice(aliasname)
+            session.configured_devices.pop(aliasname, None)
+            session.dynamic_devices.pop(aliasname, None)
+
         applyAliasConfig()  # for other aliases
         if set(newenv) != set(session.experiment.envlist):
             session.experiment.setEnvironment(list(newenv))