diff --git a/gui/src/aaregui/panels/sample_queue_panel.py b/gui/src/aaregui/panels/sample_queue_panel.py
index d265ffab..b52b4157 100644
--- a/gui/src/aaregui/panels/sample_queue_panel.py
+++ b/gui/src/aaregui/panels/sample_queue_panel.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ from PySide6.QtCore import Signal, Slot, Qt, QTimer
 from PySide6.QtWidgets import QFrame, QVBoxLayout, QHBoxLayout, QPushButton, QHeaderView, QSizePolicy, \
     QTableView, QMessageBox
 from PySide6.QtGui import QKeySequence, QShortcut
-from aaredaqlib.models import SampleShortInfoList, SampleShortInfo
+from aaredaqlib.models import SampleShortInfoList, SampleShortInfo, BeamlineStateEnum
 
 from aaregui.models.sample_queue_model import SampleQueueSpreadsheet
 from aaregui.widgets.message_box import ring_current_low_check, experiment_hutch_shutter_check, LOW_CURRENT_THRESHOLD, \
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ class SampleQueuePanel(QFrame):
 
     def __init__(self, parent=None, samples: SampleShortInfoList | None = None):
         super().__init__(parent)
+        self.__beamline_state = None
         self.__pause = True
         self.__set_to_pause = False
         self._current_db_id: int | None = None
@@ -155,7 +156,13 @@ class SampleQueuePanel(QFrame):
             self.__warning_msg_box.done(0)
             self.__warning_msg_box = None
 
-        elif self.__pause:
+        if self.__beamline_state != BeamlineStateEnum.SampleAlignment:
+            self.show_error_dialog(title="wrong beamline state",
+                                   msg="Cannot run automation while beamline is not in sample alignment state",
+                                   info="Please change the state at the bottom of the menu")
+            return
+
+        if self.__pause:
             if len(self.table_model.samples) > 0:
 
                 if not self.ring_current_check():
@@ -185,6 +192,7 @@ class SampleQueuePanel(QFrame):
     def update_daq_status(self, s: DAQStatusModel):
         self.ring_current = s.bl.ring_current_mA
         self._experiment_shutter_state = s.bl.exp_shutter_open
+        self.__beamline_state = s.state
 
     def pause_automation(self, set_id_to_None: bool = True):
         self.table_model.set_running(False)