diff --git a/src/aare/daq/daq.py b/src/aare/daq/daq.py
index b7a792a1..428f1aa4 100644
--- a/src/aare/daq/daq.py
+++ b/src/aare/daq/daq.py
@@ -979,7 +979,10 @@ class AareDAQ:
             },
         )
         logger.warning("cleaning up detector state after failed operation...")
-        self._jfjoch.cancel(wait_for_done=True)
+        try:
+            self._jfjoch.cancel()
+        except JFJochCommunicationError as e:
+            logger.error(f"Failure sending cancellation to jfjoch: {e}")
 
         if sample is None or sample_id is None:
             logger.error(f"Error in {operation.value}: {error}")
@@ -3093,14 +3096,13 @@ class AareDAQ:
         """
         Return (sample, tell_connected, tell_error) without raising.
         """
+        sample = self._cfg.current_sample
         try:
-            return self.sync_current_sample_from_tell(), True, None
+            self._devs.tell.get_state()
+            tell_connected, tell_error =  True, None
         except TellCommunicationError as e:
-            return self._cfg.current_sample, False, str(e)
-        except Exception as e:
-            logger.warning(f"error in status sample info call: {e}", exc_info=True)
-            # Keep status flowing even if Tell code throws something unexpected
-            return self._cfg.current_sample, False, f"TELL unavailable: {e}"
+            tell_connected, tell_error =  False, f"TELL unavailable: {e}"
+        return sample, tell_connected, tell_error
 
     def _aerotech_status(self) -> tuple[bool, str | None]:
         aerotech_ok = True