diff --git a/src/aare/daq/tellupdater.py b/src/aare/daq/tellupdater.py
index 531159c3..7ce91a3f 100644
--- a/src/aare/daq/tellupdater.py
+++ b/src/aare/daq/tellupdater.py
@@ -61,6 +61,12 @@ TRACKED_MOTION_SYNC_EVENTS = {
         "Sample get on Puck",
     },
 }
+TRACKED_STATE_EVENTS = {
+    "state": {
+        "Ready",
+        "Busy"
+    }
+}
 
 latest_tell_events = {}
 tell_event_history = deque(maxlen=25)
@@ -186,6 +192,12 @@ def extract_tracked_tell_event(event_name, event_data):
             return event_name, normalized_data
         return None
 
+    if event_name in TRACKED_STATE_EVENTS:
+        allowed_values = TRACKED_STATE_EVENTS[event_name]
+        if normalized_data in allowed_values:
+            return event_name, normalized_data
+        return None
+
     return None
 
 
diff --git a/src/aare/devices/tell_backend.py b/src/aare/devices/tell_backend.py
index 8a1670c1..a4a181de 100644
--- a/src/aare/devices/tell_backend.py
+++ b/src/aare/devices/tell_backend.py
@@ -70,12 +70,12 @@ class PShellTellBackend:
     def __init__(self, bl: MXBeamline):
         self._url = self._resolve_url(bl)
 
-        print(f"Connecting TELL p-shell service at {self._url} ...", end="")
+        logger.info(f"Connecting TELL p-shell service at {self._url} ...")
         hostname = urlparse(self._url).hostname
         try:
             requests.get(f"{self._url}/history/0", timeout=1.0)
         except requests.exceptions.RequestException as e:
-            print(f"...connection to {hostname} failed")
+            logger.error(f"...connection to {hostname} failed")
             raise TellCommunicationError(
                 f"TELL connection failed ({hostname})",
                 base_url=self._url,
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ class PShellTellBackend:
                 operation="GET",
             ) from e
         except requests.ReadTimeout as e:
-            print(f"...PShell service {hostname} is down")
+            logger.error(f"...PShell service {hostname} is down")
             raise TellCommunicationError(
                 f"TELL connection timedout ({hostname})",
                 base_url=self._url,
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@ class PShellTellBackend:
             ) from e
 
         self._pshell = PShellClient(self._url)
+        logger.info(f"...connected to {hostname}")
 
     @staticmethod
     def _resolve_url(bl: MXBeamline) -> str:
diff --git a/src/aare/devices/tell_client.py b/src/aare/devices/tell_client.py
index d4cdc1d7..2f8e7e2d 100755
--- a/src/aare/devices/tell_client.py
+++ b/src/aare/devices/tell_client.py
@@ -52,6 +52,8 @@ class TellEventValueEnum(Enum):
     UNMOUNT = "unmount"
     MOUNT = "mount"
     MANUAL = "manual"
+    READY = "Ready"
+    BUSY = "Busy"
 
 
 class TellClient:
@@ -203,18 +205,18 @@ class TellClient:
         logger.info("waiting for mount to complete")
         try:
             if wait and segment in "ABCDEF":
+                logger.info("Waiting for events from TELL:")
                 event, value = self.backend.wait_events(
                     {
                         "state": None,
-                        "Motion Task": "dry",
+                        "Motion Task": None,#"dry",
                         "Gripper detection": None,
                         "Motion Sync": "Robot Clear after mount",
                     },
                     timeout=wait_timeout,
                 )
                 logger.info(f"event: {event} occurred with value: {value}")
-                if event == "state" and value == 'Ready':
-                    logger.warning('READY does not mean mount success')
+                if event == "state" and str(value) == '"Ready"':
                     try:
                         msg = self.check_command_ok(
                             timeout=wait_timeout, msg=f"Mount {segment}{puck}-{sample}: "
@@ -223,7 +225,7 @@ class TellClient:
                         return TellEventValueEnum.SUCCESS
                     except Exception:
                         raise
-                if event == "state" and value == 'Busy':
+                if event == "state" and value == '"Busy"':
                     logger.warning('got busy response form robot, waiting for mount to complete')
                     try:
                         msg = self.check_command_ok(
@@ -238,7 +240,10 @@ class TellClient:
                     self.check_command_ok(
                         timeout=wait_timeout, msg=f"Mount {segment}{puck}-{sample}: "
                     )
-                    return value
+                    if value.lower() == "ready" or value.lower() == '"ready"' or value == "Ready" or str(value.lower()) == "ready" or str(value.lower()) == '"ready"':
+                        return TellEventValueEnum.SUCCESS
+                    else:
+                        raise Exception(f"Unexpected event: {event} occurred with value: {value}")
                 elif (
                         event == TellEventTypeEnum.GIPPER_DETECTION.value
                         and value == TellEventValueEnum.NO_PIN_IN_GRIPPER.value
@@ -306,7 +311,6 @@ class TellClient:
         return self._last_cmd_id
 
     def dry(self, heat_time=None, speed=None, wait_cold=None, wait=False):
-        #TODO add timeout variable????
         self.backend.wait_state("Ready", timeout=30.0)
         self._last_cmd_id = self.start_cmd("dry", heat_time, speed, wait_cold)
         if wait: